NSHE Statement Following George Floyd Verdict

Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Melody Rose issued a statement following the verdict in the case of George Floyd’s death.

“Like many, I was profoundly disturbed by the death of George Floyd last year. In light of today’s verdict in the case of Mr. Floyd’s death, we at NSHE reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the belief that we are stronger together.

Our nation continues to struggle with racially motivated violence, harassment, and discrimination against Black citizens. We have also seen a rise in hate directed at Asian communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, against our Latino and undocumented communities due to immigration issues, and our LGBTQ communities due to sexual orientation and gender identity.

We need to take time to have difficult conversations regarding racism and discrimination in all forms — inside and outside of the classroom. We must engage in more of these discussions on our campuses and acknowledge the deep-rooted, systemic, and historical racism and discrimination that exists in our country.

By embracing our differences and recognizing that racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual orientation barriers still exist we will better prepare our graduates to fight the injustices that continue to plague our nation. As Chancellor of NSHE, I will continue to listen and advocate for these values.”

– Chancellor Melody Rose, Ph.D.