ALT Respect. What does that mean to us? Respect is a core value of the Florida Gators. Respect: We treat each other with fairness, honesty, kindness, and civility. Sometimes honesty is hard. Sometimes it means taking a look in the mirror and asking ourselves if we’re upholding our values. Right now, we’re doing that, as should all Americans Racism, brutality, violence, oppression, injustice and indifference are not manifestations of respect. When we look around and see these things occurring, we have no choice but to stand together shoulder to shoulder, committed to doing more and demanding more.

ALT This will require continuous action. This will require honest, tough, often uncomfortable conversations. For many of us, that means taking the initiative in educating ourselves, listening to and believing in experiences that are different from our own. It means hearing the voices of our Black teammates, colleagues, neighbors and friends, for whom the best ideals of our nation often remain a promise unfulfilled.

ALT And the bottom line is everyone can do more. So, from this moment forward, we recommit ourselves to accountability and living out our values, to respecting each other by seeing each person’s full humanity, to better understanding experiences, pain, struggles, challenges and realities that are different from our own. And to being the change we want to see in our community, our nation and our world.

ALT Image contains signatures of all Gators head coaches and athletic director.