Statement of Solidarity

Those of us associated with Columbia’s Center for the Ancient Mediterranean are deeply disturbed by the recent events in the USA and the senseless acts of violence against African Americans, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Sean Reed, and Rayshard Brooks, as well as many others.

We stand in solidarity with the demonstrators who condemn this behavior and demand change and we deplore the treatment they received by many police departments and other government agencies. We know that the field of ancient studies has often been misused as a justification for many forms of racism in the USA and worldwide and that it has been dominated by hegemonic voices.  We regret that this continues to be the case and encourage scholarship and other means to combat this abuse of the rich diversity of ancient Mediterranean cultures we love to explore.