President Price Statement on DC Riots: 'A Direct Result of a Campaign to Sow Mistrust in Our Democracy'

Dear Duke Colleagues,

I am shocked by and condemn today’s violence in Washington. We are deeply concerned for the safety of our public officials, their staffs, and the law enforcement officers and first responders who are selflessly protecting life and property in the face of this assault.

I want to be clear: the storming of the Capitol complex is not merely a brazen act by a relatively small group of instigators. It is the direct result of a campaign to sow mistrust in our democracy and to overturn an election that was by all reasonable accounts conducted freely and fairly. These events are made all the more shameful by their futility—they are based on falsehoods and conspiracies that have been rejected in local, state, and federal courts across the country, and they simply will not change the outcome of our democratic process.

Joe Biden will rightfully be inaugurated as our next President on January 20. In the coming days, I hope that our nation can move past the hateful, divisive, and false rhetoric and come together to address the pressing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We at Duke will continue to work with our duly elected representatives in Washington, regardless of party, to that end.

Very best wishes,

Vince