UNCF: The Fight Must Continue
Organization supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
UNCF stands shoulder to shoulder with those who affirm that “Black lives matter.” And while UNCF mourns the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and more recently Daunte Wright—we redouble our daily efforts to educate and prepare college students to be graduates who will be leaders that create solutions for societal ills and fuel progressive gains for all Americans.
“For the first time in recent memory, we witnessed a rogue member of law enforcement held accountable for the senseless murder of an unarmed Black man,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “While this conviction is a step towards justice, the fight for racial equality for all citizens must continue.
“As we move into our 77th anniversary this week, UNCF remains committed to demanding justice and accountability. With the development of the new UNCF George Floyd Peace and Justice Scholarship, we envision a world where even more HBCU graduates help to lead us all toward a future where equality can finally be reached,” said Lomax.
UNCF is a steadfast supporter of H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. Having passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now waiting for action in the U.S. Senate, the bill addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability.
The work UNCF does on behalf of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their students is vital work and, is at its core, inextricably intertwined with the ongoing Black struggle for our full citizenship rights, privileges and protections. Like the lives of Black men and women, our HBCUs are constantly undervalued, disparaged, under assault and put at risk.
“UNCF has always prided itself on forging bipartisan coalitions for the betterment of all our people—uplifting social justice issues, like education,” said Lodriguez Murray, senior vice president for public policy and government affairs, UNCF. “Today, we at UNCF feel it is imperative that Democratic and Republican senators come together to forge the necessary path forward and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. If senators can put the people first, they can pass a bill that will reduce the likelihood of racial profiling and provide a path to justice for all of our communities.”
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About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20% of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.