THREAD: Georgia, our home, faces twin crises: of justice and of conscience. Recent horrifying incidents have renewed the urgency of change. Voting will not solve everything, but to build a government able to deliver equality, we must demand it at the ballot box.
#RoderickWalker was beaten by Clayton County sheriff deputies. While the firing of one officer is a step forward, all officers involved—including those who failed to intervene—should be held accountable. I am thinking of Mr. Walker and his family & join the call for justice.
At the privately-run Irwin County Detention Center, a whistleblower has accused ICE of conducting mass hysterectomies on detained immigrants. The dehumanization of women, esp. immigrant & Black women, is not new but never cease to shock the conscience. This must be investigated.
Georgia's sometimes inhumane prison conditions are rapidly deteriorating during #COVID. The serious deprivation of basic necessities such as food + water and inexcusable inaction has been recorded on video. As deaths rise, so does our state's complicity in silence.
Georgians deserve better. This election season, we can flip GA's State House and have more leaders to advocate for all Georgians, send two US Senators to Congress who believe #BlackLivesMatter; and we can remove the Coward-in-Chief in the White House.
Voting is part of the process of ending systemic inequities: protesting in the streets, at the polls and in the halls of power. This isn't just about who wins an election. It's about the lives saved, the injustices avenged, the futures reclaimed.
So we must fight with our votes and our voices. And, together, we will win.
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FAFSA submissions are lagging compared to last year. Delayed submission has real consequences for college access and affordability. More money is available but not enough families are applying.
Here's why this matters:
📉 As of March 29, 27% fewer high school seniors nationally have submitted the FAFSA than last year. In Georgia, it's 25% fewer. That’s an alarming drop-off in kids preparing for college. 1/6
Why? Because FAFSA filing strongly correlates with college enrollment. An unfiled FAFSA this spring could mean a missed college enrollment this fall.
FAFSA isn't just a form; it's a ticket to affording higher education and planning for the future. 2/6
THREAD: 14 yrs ago, the Affordable Care Act became law and transformed healthcare access for millions of Americans. But today, Georgia faces a health coverage gap crisis that fuels inequality, slows growth and is entirely the result of inexcusable & partisan policy decisions. /1
2/8: Georgia is one of only 10 states yet to expand Medicaid coverage. This leaves too many Georgians, particularly those with lower incomes, without vital health coverage.
3/8: Closing this coverage gap isn't just about healthcare—it's about economics too. New research from the Georgia Health Initiative (GHI) suggests that Medicaid expansion could bring over 51,000 new jobs to Georgia in the first three years alone. georgiahealthinitiative.org/wp-content/upl…
But Americans are rising up everywhere in democracy’s defense.
MAGA Republicans are holding their biggest conference of the year right now. Their message? “Welcome to the end of democracy.”
Believe them. Here’s a thread on what is currently happening.
First, remember that this fight is always local.
In Georgia, the State Senate’s Ethics Committee voted to end automatic voter registration, which has helped millions of Georgians register and is the primary tool to ensure the voter rolls are accurate. ajc.com/politics/georg…
Meanwhile, another Georgia Senate committee just voted to advance a “license to discriminate” law.
It allows anyone to defend bigotry by claiming their faith allows them to discriminate on the basis of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and more. secure.everyaction.com/VFJMtcR71EuJDQ…
This #BannedBooksWeek, I am appalled that we are here - again.
As the daughter of a librarian, an avid reader from the time I could hold a book & a grateful writer of children’s lit, this is a fight that matters to us all:
Books are more than just words on a page; they are windows into different worlds, perspectives, and experiences. They teach empathy, critical thinking and offer a broader understanding of who we are and what we can become.
Banning books on issues of race, sexuality or history doesn’t simply take a title from a shelf. This act of cowardice robs our children of the right to engage with complex issues in a safe and educational environment.
To every volunteer, every organizer, every door knocker, every prayer warrior, every donor, every person who lifted your hands and voices. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To the people of Georgia, thank you for believing in me and for fighting for change with me.
I got into this race for one reason only: to fight for more, for our children and generations to come. And whether we do it from the governor's mansion or from the street, from the Capitol or from our community, we will keep fighting for more in the state of Georgia.
Over the last year, I have met thousands of people face to face in Georgia. From college students in Milledgeville to the oldest resident in Baconton and countless other Georgians — they were ready to fight for the Georgia of our greatest imagination.
Families are worried about the cost of housing while Kemp sits on $400M in funds to stop evictions. We’re the 8th largest state but have the 4th highest eviction rate. 2/
Families are struggling with healthcare costs, but Kemp refuses to expand Medicaid and give health insurance coverage to 500,000 Georgians. 49% are working people.
Another big category? Women forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term are 60% less likely to work full-time. 3/