Several schools across the nation have launched memorial scholarships in honor of George Floyd, including the University of Minnesota and its law school.
The University of Minnesota Law School announced the creation of a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship in Law on Monday.
The scholarship named for Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while in the custody of Minneapolis police, was created with “a generous gift” from Catlan McCurdy and Sanjiv Laud, a married couple and graduates of the law school.
According to a press release, the scholarship will provide financial support for students of color to pursue careers in law.
“Mr. Floyd’s killing was a tragic reminder of the inequity and injustice facing Black Americans today, despite the decades that have passed since the civil rights movement,” McCurdy and Laud said in a statement. They said they hope the recipients of the scholarship will advocate for “racial justice and equality.”
“Our nation is at a crossroads. The time to confront inequality and racism is now, and the whole world is watching. Together we can make a difference,” they added.
A webpage for the scholarship says it will provide support for “full-time professional students” at the law school and notes that “preference will be given to students who will enhance the diversity of the student body.”
“As we lean into this moment together, I am proud and humbled by the actions and leadership of Catlan and Sanjiv, along with others in our Minnesota Law community,” University of Minnesota Law School Dean Garry Jenkins said. “They have stepped up and taken action in addressing the challenges of racism and moving us towards justice. Their gift shows that we can all make a difference.”
The University of Minnesota also created an undergraduate scholarship “in honor of George Floyd.”
“This fund honors George Perry Floyd Jr. and was established to support undergraduate students whose identities are underrepresented at the University of Minnesota, or undergraduate students whose studies focus on racial and social justice,” states a website for the scholarship.
The movement to create scholarships in Floyd’s memory was spawned during his memorial service at North Central University, whose president challenged “every university president in the United States to establish your own George Floyd memorial scholarship fund.”
Since then, Missouri State, Ohio University, Alabama State University, Winona State University, and several other schools across the country have launched Floyd memorial scholarships.
All four officers involved in Floyd’s death have been charged and arrested, though one of the officers, Thomas Lane, was recently released on conditional bail.
A memorial at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, the site of Floyd’s alleged murder, could become a permanent fixture in Minneapolis.
“The MPD will not be altering or decommissioning the memorial of George Floyd. We respect the memory of him and will not disrupt the meaningful artifacts that honor the importance of his life,” the Minneapolis Police Department said on Twitter over the weekend.
The MPD will not be altering or decommissioning the memorial of George Floyd. We respect the memory of him and will not disrupt the meaningful artifacts that honor the importance of his life.
— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) June 14, 2020
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “University of Minnesota” by The University of Minnesota.
