Over this past weekend, the following letter was shared with students, faculty, and staff.
May 30, 2020
Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty,
We write today to decry racist violence, a manifestation of pervasive, systemic injustice, and to condemn bigotry in all its pernicious forms. In this moment of separation, when this pandemic renders us unable to gather in person to speak, share, and comfort one another together, our isolation makes it all the more difficult to bear witness to these tragedies—and the countless others they symbolize.
In the face of the injustices around us—including the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and the incident in New York City involving Christian Cooper—we must reaffirm Milton’s long-standing commitment to building an inclusive community, the strength of which rests on our shared appreciation for culture, diversity, and identity. This cannot be a passive commitment. We must each continue to find ways of taking action to live our values. We know this work is essential to fostering mutual respect, responsibility, and empathy in each of us, so we may carry these values out into the world.
It is also critical that we offer ways in which we can model care and support for each other. We encourage any member of our community seeking support to reach out to any of us. Changing the world may seem impossibly daunting. We can do the hard work together, care for and support one another—and dare to try.
Sincerely,
Todd B. Bland
Head of School
David Ball
Upper School Principal
Steven Bertozzi
Middle School Principal
Frank Patti
Lower School Principal
Heather Flewelling
Director, Office of Multiculturalism and Community Development
