June 9, 2020
Dear Chancellor Gene Block:
On Tuesday, June 2, we learned of reports that the UCLA Jackie Robinson Stadium was used by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as a “field jail” to process arrests on Monday, June 1. Arrestees included individuals who were engaging in peaceful protests against police brutality in Los Angeles, some of whom are UCLA students and alumni. When questioned about UCLA’s involvement in the decision to utilize the UCLA campus as a processing and jailing center by the LAPD, UCLA administrators claimed to have had no prior knowledge of, or involvement in, this decision. Yet, an LAPD spokesperson, Mike Lopez, has since contradicted this account. UCLA ultimately recanted initial statements of their lack of involvement, and acknowledged having awareness of a request by the LAPD, thus admitting to the facilitation of the arrests of peaceful protesters.
As alumni, we write to you to express our outrage and disappointment over the administration’s failure to prevent the LAPD from carrying out these anti-democratic activities on the UCLA campus, particularly at a stadium named after a Black trailblazer who broke the color barrier and made important strides in the fight for racial equality. This decision directly contradicts all that Jackie Robinson stood for. These policing activities happening on the UCLA campus are unacceptable and stand in stark contrast to the statement of solidarity released by administrators in support of protests against racial injustice. They also represent a clear violation of UCLA’s Free Speech Policy, which states the university’s commitment to “assuring that all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship.”
In the statement of solidarity released on May 31, UCLA administrators stated their support for the nationwide protests against racial injustice in America. This was a positive step to show your solidarity and support for Black bruins, but your facilitation of the policing and arrest of peaceful protesters, including your own students who are fighting for this very just cause is both contradictory and deeply troubling. When presented with the opportunity to intervene in the face of injustice, UCLA fell short of its commitments to solidarity. You can, and must, do better.
We were, however, heartened by UCLA faculty’s condemnation of these actions by the LAPD, demanding greater transparency from administrators on the decision to utilize the Jackie Robinson Stadium as processing and jailing center by the LAPD. We echo their concerns and support their call for UCLA to stop collaborating with the LAPD, and to end the over-policing of UCLA students on and off campus. UCLA must take concrete steps to ensure that students, particularly Black and brown students, feel safe and supported on and around campus.
In addition to demanding greater transparency from administrators and divestment from the LAPD, we urge you to issue a public apology to our students who rely on UCLA’s campus for not only physical safety, but mental and emotional as well, as their home away from home. Additionally, we urge you to actively listen to our Black students, to address their concerns, and to implement the changes needed to meet their needs. For example, the student effort to establish a Black Student Resource Center through the Cultivating Unity for Bruins Referendum failed after not garnering enough support from the student body during this year’s student government elections. We encourage you to establish the center without requiring students to pay any additional fees. You must also give strong consideration to the demands students outlined in their letter to administrators this week. It is crucial for you to live up to your commitment to support all Bruins by enacting real, positive change.
As alumni, we expect better from our alma mater. The events that transpired on the night of June 1 run counter to the True Bruin Values we were expected to uphold as students. In a time when millions across the nation are coming together to denounce racism, police brutality, and to demand justice for Black Americans who have died at the hands of police, UCLA should live up to its values and support its students. We are disheartened to see that UCLA became a place where peaceful protesters were taken after their First Amendment rights were violated by the LAPD. UCLA should be a place where students can raise their voices to demand justice.
We urge you to do better and to support your students in the fight for justice.
In solidarity with Black Bruins,
Michelle Johnson, ‘14
President
UCLA Black Alumni Association
Bobby Grace, ‘84
Chairperson
Board of Directors
UCLA Black Alumni Association
Dayanara Ramirez, ‘16
Christine Zirneklis ‘13
Marbella “Eboni” Allen, ‘13
Becky Phan, ‘14
Dolapo Sangokoya, ‘15
Davontae Foxx-Drew, ‘15
Ian Cocroft, ‘16
Klarissa Reynoso, ‘16
Additional UCLA Alumni signatures here.
cc: Emily A. Carter, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Michael J. Beck, Administrative Vice Chancellor, and Jerry Kang, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion