In response to the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, ULI made the following statement:

On Tuesday evening the jury in Minneapolis held former police officer Derek Chauvin appropriately accountable for the murder of George Floyd by passing a guilty verdict on all three charges brought by the state of Minnesota. We applaud the actions of the state in pursuing the case, as well as the members of the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence.

The murder of George Floyd, along with the many other highly publicized police shootings, provide continued evidence of the systemic racism that exists in communities across the United States. It is important that we do not allow this tragic event to become just another footnote in history, but rather have it serve as an important step toward addressing problems with police practices and ensure equitable treatment for all members of our communities. The strength of our communities should be drawn from our diversity and our ability to be inclusive.

We believe we have a role to play in addressing systemic racism in the United States and both our members and staff have been clear that ULI should lead change in the real estate industry. We are dedicated to increasing the representation of diverse populations in our industry, our membership and our staff through our educational programs, partnering with other organizations, and targeted outreach. We also seek to engage the resources of our members and our organization to overcome the barriers created in the past to achieve a more equitable society through the use of our Advisory Services, research resources, and excellent convening capabilities. This goal is entirely consistent with our mission to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.