Recent events surrounding the sad and tragic death of George Floyd have called to mind the ongoing need for efforts to promote peace, justice, and the sanctity of all human life, especially those who are most vulnerable. We join together as a community of education and faith in the Lasallian Catholic tradition to mourn the loss of Floyd and pray for the consolation of his family and friends, as well as for all affected in our community and beyond.
We currently live in an anxious and uncertain time brought on by the current pandemic and this recent death. The violent protests surrounding Floyd’s death highlight the fragility of our communities along with the need for accountability, honesty, and just resolution to conflict. During this time, we call to mind the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
As many of you may know, sadly, south Minneapolis witnessed significant rioting which resulted in looted and burned buildings on the Lake Street corridor last night. Our Twin Cities Campus in Minneapolis was not directly impacted, but there are concerns that the Minneapolis police and fire departments are currently overwhelmed and will not be able to respond to all of the issues that may arise.
Under advice from the security agency that monitors our properties, Saint Mary’s has made the decision to close the Twin Cities Campus to all employees through Monday, June 1, to ensure the safety of all. Maintenance and security personnel will remain on-site to monitor the campus. We will keep our community updated regarding this decision and related events.