On Thursday, Jan. 7, University of Minnesota Duluth Chancellor Lendley Black shared the following statement regarding the insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“I join with President Gabel in condemning the attack on our U.S. Capitol. This insurrection endangered members of Congress and tried to disrupt our critical democratic process of officially naming America’s next president. We must all condemn this violence and affront to our democracy.
"Our UMD Core Values include Integrity, where we strive to adhere to the highest ethical standards and take responsibility for our ideas and actions. Our UMD Mission Statement emphasizes the importance of public engagement as we prepare students to thrive as lifelong learners and globally engaged citizens.
"My hope is that yesterday’s insurrection will not deter the UMD community from our commitment to public and civic engagement, and that we renew our commitment to act with integrity, respect diverse individuals, perspectives and ideas, and work through differences in productive ways that promote our democracy, instead of violent attempts to tear it down.”
He calls for a renewed commitment to "respect diverse individuals, perspectives and ideas, and work through differences in productive ways."