On Tuesday, March 29, Deep Center youth joined students from Clayton County, Gwinnett County, as well as advocacy organizations and elected officials to host a press conference on the 2nd floor south stairs of the Georgia Capitol in response to the Senate Youth and Education hearing on House Bill 1084.
Deep Center was joined by The Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), CASA, The Black College Firm, Senator Elena Parent, Representative Bee Nguyen, Senator Lester Jackson, Representative Edna Jackson, and Representative Derek Mallow, to stand in solidarity alongside Georgia students who were denied their right to public testimony when the Senate Education Committee chose to suppress the voices of students who were present to speak up for their educational rights. The video can be seen here.
“This was not democratic” said Deep Center youth Harrison Tran. “We will not be silenced.”
“I was appalled when my colleagues on the Senate Education and Youth Committee refused testimony from students who drove from across the state in opposition to HB 1084” said Senator Elena Parent, member of the Senate Youth and Education committee. “ I’m determined that their voices be heard.”
“It’s instrumental that students get their chance to weigh in on decisions that directly impact them.” Representative Bee Nguyen said.
While Georgia students were silenced when they stood against House Bill 1084, in this press conference, they made their voices heard alongside allies in calling for truth in education, culturally sustaining schools, fully funded public education, and elected officials who serve every single Georgia family.
To watch the full press conference, see below: