Kanye West is giving $2 million in funds that will go to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was recently killed in an act of police brutality that has sparked groundbreaking protests across the US.
Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor were also black and also wrongly murdered. Two white men killed 25-year-old Arbery while he was jogging in his neighborhood. Police officers shot 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her home.
The donation will fund legal fees for the three families, a special trust for George Floyd’s daughter’s college tuition, and support for black-owned businesses in crisis.
Kanye is establishing a 529 education plan. The plan will fully cover college costs for 6-year-old Gianna Floyd, George Floyd’s daughter. However, the money can help in other ways, too, for things like dental care plans and future bills.
The donation comes amid the protests and demonstrations in honor of Floyd, Arbery, and Taylor. Similarly, other people in entertainment have been working to call for an end to systematic racism and police brutality.
But, will their effort be enough?
Related: Kanye Running for President, Wants to Change His Name
Derek Chauvin, the officer who pinned Floyd to the ground, was arrested last week. Officials charged him with second-degree murder. Similarly, the three other officers involved made their first court appearance on Thursday and were charged with aiding and abetting murder.
Currently, the Floyd family has several memorial services planned. George Floyd’s funeral will take place on June 9 in Houston, Texas. Reportedly, Former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to attend. This is according to Ben Crump, Floyd’s family attorney.
“We understand Vice President Biden will be in attendance,” said Crump in an interview posted on Facebook. As for Trump, there has been no comment from the White House.
However, not everyone supports George Floyd.
Related: Minneapolis Police Chief Says All Officers Involved in George Floyd Death Complicit
On Thursday, conservative commentator Candace Owens posted an explosive 18-minute video. Incredibly, she states that she doesn’t support Floyd and the “media depiction of him as a martyr for black America.”
Owens, who is African-American, criticized the African-American community for “cater[ing] to the bottom denominator of our society” by “demand[ing] support and justice for the people in our community that are up to no good.”
She continues, “So, I want to come out and say that I do not support George Floyd and the media depiction of him as a martyr for black America. No matter how much pressure comes from black liberals and black conservatives as some token of people wanting you to believe that this is the only way you can be black,” she concluded.
However, many people disagree with her sentiment. Owen’s words ignore the systematic issues that people of color face.
Related: Obama Tells Young People of Color That Their Lives Matter
