St. Thomas University announced on Feb. 8 the naming of the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law.
It is the first law school in America to honor a practicing Black attorney in such a way, St. Thomas said.
“The naming of the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law at St. Thomas University is the latest step in an effort to encourage bridge-building among the legal profession, law enforcement and our communities,” David A. Armstrong, a lawyer and the university president, said in a press statement.
Crump and his law firm gave $1 million to the law school.
“The future changemakers and civil justice leaders that will matriculate from St. Thomas will soon be passed the torch from today’s civil rights icons and I have every confidence that they will meet the moment,” Crump said.
Other donors to the law school include the Truist Foundation; the Black Promoters Collective; actor Will Smith; Bishop T.D. Jakes and Tony Romanucci (Crump’s co-counsel in the George Floyd case), the school said.
Donations will also launch a capital campaign to build a new building on the Miami Gardens campus.