Marymount University Board of Trustees, Dr. Irma Becerra, and University Leaders, 

We are students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Marymount University, and we demand that the university take accountability for years of lack of support for people of color. This petition is a result of the recent occurrence of withdrawing public support for the Black Community on social media, by removing the "BLACK LIVES MATTER" post, and using a poor, inappropriate excuse of not wanting to "deflect attention from our Class of 2020 graduates", as the Black Community faces a continuation of violence by the state. 

We demand the university fulfill the mission of The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary that states, “we place ourselves and our resources at the service of those who are most in need of justice, especially women and children, enabling the powerless, the deprived, the marginalized, the voiceless to work effectively for their own development and liberation”. The Black Community and persons of color at Marymount University feel that this mission has not been fulfilled in any capacity. The university does not give unwavering public support for people of color nor enforce their claim of zero-tolerance policy against racism. The university has not been supporting the marginalized to be liberated on campus or beyond. 

We demand that Marymount University publishes a public video apology to members of its community on all social media platforms that includes a statement of understanding why their actions have caused further harm and how the university will rectify this harm, especially to the Black Community who are part of the Marymount Community. Marymount University must hold itself accountable for completing this restorative justice and work towards regaining the loss of respect and confidence in the community.