ATLANTA – State Representative Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC), today issued the following statement regarding recent reports that Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan tabled plans to create a study committee to investigate systemic inequality:
“With the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, George Floyd in Minnesota, Jacob Blake in Wisconsin and countless others who lost their lives to unjust killings, it is beyond comprehension how Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan can say that there is no interest in studying systemic inequalities in Georgia.
“Systemic inequality is at the forefront of hundreds of peaceful protests that call for an end to systemic racism which continues to plague our country.
“What does Lt. Governor Duncan think is behind the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, or does he simply write it off as unimportant?
“It would certainly be a benefit to Georgia legislators and their constituents to have a study committee to bring objective outcomes, causes and potential solutions that may actually address some of the ills of this dark disease.
“Positive outcomes can help to pull Georgia up and out as a premier state that is addressing such issues. Perhaps it may even save a life or two when Georgia grapples with the reality of systemic racism once and for all. The passage of hate crime legislation was a beginning, and the support that it received from all across Georgia is certainly enough evidence to prove that Georgia needs a study committee on systemic inequalities.
“The public call for social justice and change is indicative of the need for the Georgia General Assembly to move forward and proves that Lt. Governor Duncan should seat a study committee. We are ready to lead on this effort just as we did with the passage of House Bill 426. The time is long past due. If the lt. governor does not know where to go to find interest in this matter, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is happy and ready to assist.
“If we do not to move forward on this issue, it will undermine the very existence of the work that was done to pass HB 426. We cannot ignore the public outcry on this issue. We need better laws to ensure equal justice for all.”
Established in 1975, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is a 501(c)3 non-profit, nonpartisan organization comprised of 65 Georgia House and Senate members.
For more information about the GLBC, please click here.
Representative Karen Bennett represents the citizens of Districts 94, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism, Health & Human Services and Regulated Industries committees.
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