Statement from APS Board of Education on Death of George Floyd

The APS Board of Education releases this statement in solidarity with the statements made by the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS), National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), our own APS District as well as many other organizations on the recent uprisings and protests happening across the nation in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

We are deeply concerned and distressed about the indefensible murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Sean Reed, and so many other Black lives. All who have been victims of injustice.

We recognize the wounds of institutional and systemic racism in the United States, including New Mexico, and understand the common denominator of hatred behind those injustices as they seek to besiege and silence those they oppress. We stand in solidarity in support of basic human dignity and against institutional and systemic racism, violence, and discrimination of any kind. We raise our voices in unity with calls for equity, fairness, and equal protection under the law.  This is a moment of reckoning for our communities, and we must call for change and advocate for social justice.

Public education plays an important part in promoting equity, dignity, and respect. As educators, we strive to create safe and welcoming environments for all students and staff to come together to learn and thrive. But our students are not just our students, they are citizens of the world, and they see and hear for themselves the ugly realities we face. Perhaps more importantly, they learn by example. No one should ever fear for their life because of their race, skin color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or disability. But, the tragedies we’ve seen play out tell us the fear is real.

We commit to rise, as one of the leaders of our nation’s urban public schools, by amplifying our efforts. We commit to ensure that our schools are safe havens where all children are respected and nurtured, where all children can achieve and grow, and where all children are guaranteed equity and justice.