Case
Equal Protection Project v. North Central University – Minnesota (George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Open Only to Black Students Challenged)
Case Particulars
Tribunal
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Date Filed
March 25, 2024
Docket No.
N/A
Case Status
OCR Complaint Filed; North Central University has Removed the Race-Based Eligibility Requirement
Case Overview
EPP filed a Civil Rights Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) against North Central University (NCU) in Minneapolis, regarding the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship, which is open only to black students and provides a four year-full tuition scholarship.
Students who do not meet the prerequisite racial categories – for example, students who identify as white, Hispanic or Asian – are automatically ineligible for the scholarship.
EPP is the Complainant and the Complaint is being investigated by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
UPDATE: On July 15, 2024, the College Fix reported that NCU had removed the race-based eligibility requirement for the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship.
Case Documents
Media Coverage
- Christian university slightly edits George Floyd scholarship after civil rights complaint, Matt Lamb, The College Fix (July 15, 2024)
- Sigh… A Conservative Group is Coming For a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship, Jessica Washington, The Root (April 8, 2024)
- George Floyd Scholarship Lawsuit, Mike Slater, The First on TV (April 6, 2024)
- Federal Complaint Claims The George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Discriminates Against Students Who Aren’t Black, Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence (April 4, 2024)
- “we don’t care if they have a George Floyd scholarship, but they can’t discriminate on basis of race for eligibility”, William A. Jacobson, Legal Insurrection (March 31, 2024)
- George Floyd scholarship accused of discriminating against non-Black students in federal complaint, Katherine Itoh, NBC News (March 29, 2024)
- Discriminatory George Floyd Scholarship at North Central University Challenged By Equal Protection Project, William A. Jacobson, Legal Insurrection (March 28, 2024)
- Complaint accuses George Floyd scholarship of discriminating against non-Black students, Anthony Robledo, USA Today (March 28, 2024)
- George Floyd scholarship for black students faces federal discrimination complaint, Andrew Chapados, Blaze Media (March 28, 2024)
- Minnesota university’s George Floyd scholarship exclusively for black students sparks ‘discrimination’ complaints, Carl Campanile, New York Post (March 27, 2024)
- George Floyd Scholarships, Only Open To Black Students, Are Illegal, Federal Complaint Alleges, Ashe Schow, Daily Caller (March 27, 2024)
- George Floyd Scholarship Only Open To Black Students Is Illegal, Federal Complaint Alleges, Bobby Burack, Outkick (March 27, 2024)
- George Floyd Scholarship For Black Students Is ‘Wrong & Unlawful’: Lawsuit, Jovonne Ledet, Black Information Network (March 27, 2024)
- Blacks-only George Floyd Scholarship spurs federal civil rights complaint: ‘Wrong and unlawful’, Victor Morton, Washington Times (March 26, 2024)
- George Floyd scholarship violates federal civil rights law, lawsuit claims, Kendall Tietz, Fox News (March 26, 2024)
- George Floyd scholarship violates civil rights law: federal complaint, Eleanor Blair, The College Fix (March 26, 2024)