Dear Friends,

The unforgettable events that took place yesterday in Washington, DC, have caused me to postpone the January 2021 Expresso we were going to send today.

Yesterday began on a historic note with the results of Georgia’s runoff election, resulting in a shift of control of the Senate. Evidence of a thriving democracy at work!

By mid-morning, the entire nation turned upside down and experienced the greatest affront to that same democracy with the horrifying siege of our U.S. Capitol. Shock, anger, disappointment, confusion, and heartbreak were emotions that overwhelmed us. As Chancellor Sam Hawgood wrote earlier today, if you are in need of support, please make use of the health and well-being resources available to the UCSF community.

In addition, as we watched the events and violence unfold, I couldn’t help but notice the difference in the treatment of the protesters who stormed the Capitol compared to those marching in Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

The Honorable John Lewis said, “Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.”

I returned my attention to the Georgia voters and the results of their actions, regaining my optimism in our democracy and our unwavering commitment to peace and truth, and our UCSF values of professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence. These must be our guideposts as we navigate the road to recovery.

Indeed, we do not know what the next few weeks have in store for us, but I know that I am more committed than ever to work together toward a better future. We cannot rest.

When the time is right, we’ll send the regular installment of Expresso!

In peace and solidarity,
Dan