Conservative Group Says George Floyd Scholarship Discriminates Against White Students

A scholarship established to honor George Floyd and help Black students is the subject of a discrimination lawsuit. 

On Monday, the Legal Insurrection Foundation filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. The primarily white conservative organization claims the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship discriminates against non-Black students and is an alleged violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance,” NBC News explains. 

The scholarship was established in 2020 following the tragic murder of Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The scholarship, which is presented at the ​​North Central University in Minneapolis, is offered to students who are “Black or African American.” The Legal Insurrection Foundation argues that white students are being discriminated against because they are automatically deemed ineligible.

“Discrimination against white applicants is just as unlawful as discrimination against black or other non-white applicants,” wrote civil rights attorney Ameer Benno and Cornell University law professor William Jacobson in their complaint. 

As of now, the scholarship will continue to accept applications for the 2024-25 academic school, choosing a recipient by June. As for the lawsuit, it appears the organization is looking to either expand the scholarship to other races or scrap it altogether.