George Floyd's toxicology report pinned to Duke University's Black History Month display says he died of overdose
Duke University is investigating an incident after Geroge Floyd’s toxicology report was allegedly pinned to the Black History Month bulletin board, insinuating his death was related to drugs. The flier was reportedly spotted on Saturday, March 20, pinned to a display honoring victims of police brutality with handwritten remarks.
The comments allegedly said, “Mix of drugs presents in difficulty breathing! Overdose? Good Man? Use of fake currency is a felony!” The act has sparked outrage among the students, prompting the university to involve the Duke University Police Department to probe the incident. They have asked anybody with information to come forward.
RELATED ARTICLES
The flier was reportedly first spotted by a freshman, Matt Mohn, who labeled the act “audacious” and said that it was taken down nearly 30 minutes after he reported it to the resident adviser. “All of a sudden, someone comes up and is essentially sticking a thumb in the face of every Black person, saying his life didn’t matter, that he wasn’t a good person, because of one $20 bill,” Mohn said.
He further added, “I was just really, really surprised by it, that someone would put that much effort into trying to strip someone of their humanity for no reason.” Meanwhile, another freshman Michael Manns, who is Black, according to NY Post, said he was “honestly terrified” on learning about the incident. “That happened right down the hall from where I sleep, from where I’m supposed to be safe. The thought that it could be someone I’ve lived with all these months really terrified me,” he said.
A letter addressed to the undergraduate students was sent out by Duke University, warning Community Standards (OSCCS) will issue sanctions to the responsible students. It said, “We are writing to make you aware of an incident on East Campus that is being investigated as a possible violation of the Duke Community Standard and the Policy on Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment.”
“Any incident that is motivated in whole or part by an individual's race, warrants "acceleration" or elevation of sanctioning due to the impact on the community. Any conduct outcomes will be confidential under FERPA, but OSCCS will report aggregate conduct outcomes for the 2020-21 academic year in August 2021. If the investigation does not identify a responsible student, we will inform the community of that outcome on or before April 15 as part of our monthly conduct update,” it stated further.
Floyd died after a now-former police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes following reports about the Black man allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a Minneapolis store. The Hennepin County medical examiner announced that Floyd had “recent methamphetamine use” and “fentanyl intoxication” as well as hypertension and coronary artery disease that could have contributed to his death. However, two doctors who conducted his autopsy established there were no underlying health issues and that asphyxiation was the cause for his death.