George Edwards Receives Sankofa Award from National Bar Association
08/04/2020
Professor George Edwards received the Sankofa Award from the National Bar Association during its national convention, which took place in a virtual format. Professor Edwards received the honor July 29.
Award presenters highlighted Professor Edwards’ significant contributions over the years, including marshaling the National Bar's petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the unprecedented UN urgent debate on racially motivated human rights violations in the U.S. prompted by the killing of George Floyd. The council issued a resolution following the debate, authorizing the UN to take investigatory steps. The National Bar’s petition and the UN Resolution can be found at this link.
The Sankofa Award was established by the National Bar in 2005 and is presented to an individual whose efforts have made quality education accessible to all. The award is presented on behalf of the National Bar president and the chairperson of the awards committee. It represents the old African adage "Always remember the past for therein lies the future."
“It was a great honor to receive the Sankofa Award from the National Bar Association at the NBA's 95th Annual Convention,” Professor Edwards said. He provided a link to his speech during the virtual presentation. (Facebook login may be required to view the video.)
Professor Edwards is the Carl M. Gray Professor of Law, and the Founding Faculty Director of the Program in International Human Rights Law and the Guantanamo Bay Cuba Military Commission Monitoring Project. He has been elected as Delegate to two Presidential National Conventions, and attended two others, and has worked on political campaigns at all levels, from local to the Presidential, including working at primaries and caucuses around the U.S., primarily on legal matters related to voter protection.
