COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Bowie State University and the University of Maryland have formed an alliance to promote social justice on college campuses.
It was created to honor the legacy of 1st Lieutenant Richard Collins III.
The young African American man was stabbed to death back in 2017 at the University of Maryland College Park.
He attended Bowie State University and had been commissioned in the U.S. Army.
Sean Urbanski, a white man from Severna Park was convicted of killing him but the hate crime charge against Urbanski was dismissed.
"Rick and I are hoping and believing that this is s model that will be taken across the country. For a predominately white institution along with a historically black institution coming together and speaking about the ills associated with social justice."
This is a significant day for the announcement because the Richard Collins III law goes into effect in the state of Maryland.
It strengthens the state’s hate crime law, so prosecutors don't have to prove that hate was the only motivating factor in committing a crime.
