The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) condemns the College Football National Championship game that was played at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025, which featured Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the late Martin Luther King Jr., as a special guest to toss the coin in the game opening kickoff.

“The coin toss at the College Football National Championship on Jan. 20th that featured Bernice King as a special guest to flip the coin was highly inappropriate and disrespectful. The way she was treated in front of the audience was uncivil and unacceptable. The actions of the College Football National Championship and SEC demand immediate investigation and accountability for the actions that was presented,” said Demetrius Johnson Jr., founder, President & CEO, HCF.

“Bernice’s father, the late civil rights activist Dr. King, once said: “Make a career out of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle of equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.“ The disrespect on what is marked as a federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr., present how the championship and referee Steve Marlowe feels about injustice and equality in this country and the lasting contributions that Dr. King championed for in advancing civil and human rights. Our country’s strength lies in its commitment to justice and equality for all, and we must continue to do King’s work to advance this philosophy,” Johnson concluded.

About the HBCU Campaign Fund
The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) was founded in 2012 and is a non-profit educational organization that remains a strong advocate for students and higher education. The mission of HCF is to support the significance and raise funds for scholarships, programs, and for private and public HBCUs and MSIs. For more information, visit www.hbcucampaignfund.org.

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