109 university and college presidents, including seven black university and college presidents, have penned an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to help stop hate crimes, which have increased since the election.
“As do you, we “seek common ground, not hostility; partnership, not conflict.” In order to maintain the trust required for such productive engagement, it is essential that we immediately reaffirm the core values of our democratic nation: human decency, equal rights, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination,” wrote the university and college presidents.
The university and college presidents, according to the letter, commit themselves to promoting these values on their respective campuses and in their communities. In addition, the letter said that “we stand alongside the business, nonprofit, religious and civic leaders who are doing the same in organizations large and small.”
“In light of your pledge to be “President for all Americans,” we urge you to condemn and work to prevent the harassment, hate and acts of violence that are being perpetrated across our nation, sometimes in your name, which is now synonymous with our nation’s highest office,” asked the university and college presidents. “In our schools, on job sites and college campuses, on public streets and in coffee shops, members of our communities, our children, our families, our neighbors, our students and our employees are facing very real threats, and are frightened.”
The university and college presidents conclude, exclaiming, “One of the roles of leaders is to protect and empower the most vulnerable. As president-elect, this responsibility rests heavily on you. Let this be a mark of your leadership.”
- Frank G. Pogue, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (interim president)
- Walter M. Kimbrough, Dillard University
- James A. Anderson, Fayetteville State University
- Richard Green, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
- John Silvanus Wilson Jr., Morehouse College
- David Wilson, Morgan State University
- Stanley J. Pritchett Sr., Morris Brown College
Click to review the entire list of presidents endorsing the letter.
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