Benjamin Crump, civil rights chief and George Floyd legal professional, to present TSU commencement speech

Benjamin Crump, civil rights activist and attorney for George Floyd’s family, will deliver the opening address at the Texas Southern University graduation ceremony.

Crump, a social justice advocate, will speak at the ceremonies on May 8th at 8:30 am and 11:30 am at Alexander Durley Stadium.

“Ben Crump is an example of moral courage. Throughout his career, he’s told the truth to power and reminded us of the impact a single voice can have,” said Ken Huewitt, TSU interim president. I have no doubt it will be in his Words will find both strength and inspiration. ”

Crump’s work has resulted in legislation that prevents excessive violence and develops implicit bias training and strategies.

He has represented families in several high profile civil rights cases, including George Floyd of the Third Ward, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and residents of Flint, Michigan who have been affected by toxic water.

The lawyer represented nine of the 13 black women who were victims of the Holtzclaw Oklahoma City Police rape case in 2015. He worked on the US Supreme Court precedent of 2008 excessive police force against Houston-born Robbie Tolan.

Crump is president of the National Civil Rights Trial Lawyers Association and was previously president of the National Bar Association. He has won the NAACP Thurgood Marshall Award, the SCLC Martin Luther King Servant Leader Award, the Johnnie Cochran Award from the American Association for Justice, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Medallion for Service from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Crump graduated from Florida State University and received his law degree from FSU College of Law.