Dear Wolfpack Community,

Yesterday, we learned that two of the Louisville, KY police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed, innocent Black woman, in her own home, were not criminally charged, and a third officer was indicted on a charge of wanton endangerment.

Today, we again acknowledge this human loss and pay respect to Breonna Taylor’s life.

Ms. Taylor was a 26-year-old medical worker employed by University of Louisville Health as a full-time emergency room technician who, according to NPR, enjoyed playing cards with her family and watching movies with friends. She was known as “Bre” to her loved ones and came from a close family. Breonna had already made a positive impact in her community, with so much more possible for her future.

For our Black community and our many allies on campus, we stand together in this moment.  We want to provide solace, join together in our sadness, our anger and our despair, and help each other during this time. What hurts one of us, hurts all of us.

Please join us in any of the following opportunities to come together, and we encourage you to reach out to one of our campus resources for support and community.

And, please know that, even in our sorrow, we vow to continue to focus our work and commitment to dismantling unjust systems and building an inclusive and just NC State community and world. We will continue our course of action as we stand fully in the acknowledgment that there is still work to be done.

In sorrow and solidarity,

Sheri L. Schwab, J.D., M.Ed., ‘97
Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity
Title IX and ADA Coordinator
NC State University