Grief and Outrage at the Killing of Daunte Wright

A message from President Suzanne Rivera

Dear Macalester Community,

I write this morning to share my grief and acknowledge the fresh pain that so many members of our community are feeling after the killing of Daunte Wright by law enforcement in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota yesterday. We mourn with Mr. Wright’s family and we stand with them.

We know this new trauma adds to the pain already experienced so deeply in our community— especially by Black members of our community. We denounce police brutality, racism, and the systems of oppression that foster an environment in which the killing of unarmed Black people by police is a regular feature of American life. Together, we feel grief upon grief. Like many of you, I struggle to find the words.

The killing of Mr. Wright comes amidst the backdrop of the trial of Derek Chauvin, underway in Minneapolis. We are mindful during this time of the memory of George Floyd and the pain and outrage that so many have felt and expressed over his death.

As a community, we need to support each other. Please know that there are support resources available to you on our campus. We encourage you to utilize these resources and to encourage others to utilize them to care for yourselves and each other. The staff at the Hamre Center, the Department of Multicultural Life, and the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life are available. Counselors in the Hamre Center are prepared to receive and support students in their trauma, feelings, and needs for support. Counseling services in the Hamre Center include drop-in counseling, an online request form for counseling appointments, and the Press 2 service for 24-hour counseling support by phone. Employees who seek support are encouraged to access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

This is a painful time for our campus, local, and national communities. We are grieving and we are angry. Black lives matter, today and every day. Black lives matter. 

April 12, 2021