An Open Letter to the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance

The Coalition (Partnership for Community and Diversity, Evans People Of Color, Out in Public and Race Action Committee at Evans) strongly condemns the violence that was enacted by American white supremacists, nationalists, and neo-nazi groups in Charlottesville, Virginia. As a result of these acts of terrorism, Heather Heyer was murdered and dozens of others were injured while peacefully protesting against white supremacy and racism. In addition, the same racist groups were on the UW Seattle campus last January, which culminated in the shooting of an innocent bystander in Red Square who required critical medical care for months.
The silence of the Evans School on this matter is deafening. We are extremely disappointed by the school’s failure to condemn both the violence and subsequent comments by President Trump, who did not single out the problematic actions and ideologies of white nationalists and neo-nazis but insisted that “both sides” were to blame. These hateful groups are emboldened by these comments; they are emboldened by white silence.
We agree with President Cauce’s statement that justice is not an endpoint with a clear finish line, and that it is a constant work in progress. Thus, absence of a concrete roadmap forward from President Cauce and the Evans School causes students a great deal of discomfort and anxiety. Evans’ students of color are wondering what it will be like to return to our predominantly white institution in the fall. We are wondering how our presence will be perceived by white peers, faculty and staff. We also wonder whether or not we will be safe, especially after an increase in violence both on and off campus, along with a string of verbal confrontations in our classrooms. These events have highlighted the undertones of racism, white supremacist attitudes and aggression among students and faculty. While the Evans School is indeed pushing the boulder up the hill in some regards by launching its new 3-credit Race and Equity Workshop series for First Year students, its institutional inaction on this matter sends a very different message to the student body and the public.
We have no doubt that all of us, regardless of race, ethnicity or background, must unite in our rejection of this destructive behavior and ideology in all its forms, now more than ever. There cannot be concessions given to any parties who engage in violence, racism, bigotry, misogyny and white supremacist behavior, including the President of the United States and other high ranking public officials.
We ask that the Evans School act quickly to release statements across all internal and external communications platforms that:
- condemn white supremacist, neo-nazi, white nationalist, “alt-right” groups and their acts of terrorism in Charlottesville and all over the country;
- note President Trump’s failure to single out white nationalists as further empowering these groups and their followers;
- recognize that while Evans aims to increase diversity of student and faculty, in reality, its organizational culture is lagging behind. More efforts must be made to create and maintain a safe learning environment for students of color and other non-traditional students; and
- commit to the design and implementation of an action-oriented strategy/plan to combat racism (implicit and explicit), misogyny and unconscious bias at the school.
The Coalition’s mission is to seek out and amplify the voices of those underrepresented and silenced in public policy and governance. These voices belong to our community members (black, brown, indigenous, LGBTQ+, womxn, immigrants, refugees, disabled, undocumented, cash-poor folks, those of non-Christian faiths, and those at the intersections) who continue to be the targets of ridicule, violence, harassment and terrorism by President Trump, “alt-right”, white supremacist, neo-nazi and white nationalist groups. We must be able to rely on the Evans School to stand with us in our mission.
We hope that you will act quickly to regain our trust in you as the representative of an institution that has as yet failed to condemn these groups and their actions.
Sincerely,
The Coalition
Evans People of Color (EPOC), Race Action Committee at Evans (RACE), and Partnership for Community and Diversity (PCD) and Out in Public (OiP) are a coalition of racial justice-based student interest groups at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. This Coalition believes that it is imperative that all studying and working within systems of public policy and governance are deeply cognizant of the fact that race and ethnicity significantly affect wellbeing and outcomes in the United States and around the world. We believe that these systems can and must be reformed to create a more equitable and racially just society.
