Statement on Jacksonville shootings
Dear, SSW Community,
It is with profound sadness, and anger, that I write to you today about the tragic events that occurred over the weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, where a white man shot and killed three Black people. The motive was racist and evil. Plain and simple. On behalf of the School of Social Work at VCU, I condemn this act and oppose all forms of racism and discrimination. As social workers, we must be vigilant in reporting any form of harassment, discrimination or hate crime.
Join me in grieving with all who have been impacted, and let us lift up Angela Michelle Carr, 52; Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre, 19; and Jerrald Gallion, 29, and name them among those targeted by terrible acts of racially motivated violent extremism.
In addition, yesterday on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I worked for almost 20 years, a faculty member was shot and killed. Details are still emerging, but join me also in grieving for those in our academic community at UNC-CH who are impacted by this tragedy.
These events only strengthen my resolve that as social workers, we must all continue our work toward the eradication of all forms of violence.
In Community,
Gary S. Cuddeback, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H.
Interim Dean and Professor
Associate Dean for Research
Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Work
Virginia Commonwealth University