UC statement on the tragic killing of Daunte Wright

University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., issued the following statement today (April 13):

“Sunday’s killing of Daunte Wright is yet another senseless tragedy that tears at our hearts and reopens deep wounds. We grieve for and with his family and loved ones. This latest horror vividly conjures the trauma and heartbreak of the killing of George Floyd just a few miles away. And so many, too many, others.

“Sunday’s tragedy calls once again for our country to undertake the critical work necessary to reimagine how we conduct policing in America.

“We unequivocally stand in support of ending systemic racism, of an immediate end to the killing of unarmed Black and brown individuals by law enforcement, and of prosecuting those that commit hate crimes against Asian Americans.

“We are undertaking the critical work of reimagining policing with intentionality and shared purpose as we examine our safety practices and the function of police on our campuses. We will continue that work with purpose by engaging with all of our campus communities and putting forward changes necessary to create a safer future for us all.”