The Black Faculty and Staff association at Chico State will stay home on Sept. 26 in response to police brutality toward unarmed black men and women in our country, according to a campus-wide email.

“These issues and others have left some of us within our community feeling as though our voices, experiences and lives do not matter,” the association said. “Thus, in an act of self-care, self-awareness and self-preservation, we will participate in #StayAtHomeSeptember26.”

Some students and staff who have personal or professional obligations to attend on Sept. 26, will be on campus, but will make the black lives matter a topic of conversation in class as well as with colleagues to ensure their voices are heard.

Members of the Black Faculty and Staff association stated that this act does not reflect their lack of interest in students, colleagues or the community, rather it portrays the injustice against those who have been killed or harmed by those who are supposed to protect the community.

In the email, the association asked for support from the university and community to continue this conversation.

“Our absence on Monday is only the first step toward necessary change,” the association said.

Katalina Santamaria can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter.