(April 17, 2023 • Austin) Families, advocates and policymakers spoke for House Bill 4625 to strengthen Texas laws prohibiting and preventing identity-based bullying and harassment in schools. Approximately one in four students in this country experience bullying related to their race, national origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. Students across the state have been increasingly reporting alarming examples of identity-based bullying in schools – fueled in part by misinformation spread as a result of recent efforts to attack and undermine diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in education.
The news conference took place just before the Texas House Youth Health & Safety’s Select Committee hearing on HB 4625.
Read IDRA’s testimony for HB 4625 by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., Texas Must Prohibit and Prevent Identity-based Bullying in Schools.
Read testimony by NAACP Texas presented by Gary Bledsoe, President.
Watch the news conference and hearing below. We will continue to post updates here.
0:4:49 min Shardae McGaha, parent & cofounder of Parents Against Racism, Texas
0:6:46 min Phyllis Gant, Lubbock NAACP Chairwoman of Legal Redress
0:15:33 min Tracy Kemp, parent & cofounder of Parents Against Racism, Texas
0:18:55 min Mary Pegues, parent & cofounder of Parents Against Racism, Texas
0:25:38 min Trinity Hawkins
0:35:07 min Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., IDRA Chief Legal Analyst
0:40:07 min Tiffanie Harrison, teacher
0:44:07 min Laquanta Hernández, parent & educator
0:55:01 min Jasmine Hernández, student
0:57:33 min Sara Freund, educator
1:15:56 min Manya Blaisdell, advocate
1:18:59 min Andrew Hairston, Texas Appleseed Education Justice Project Director
1:21:53 min Gary Bledsoe, Texas NAACP President
1:26:05 min Hank Whitekurt*, TEA Director of Student Supports Implementation, Division of Supportive Schools
1:34:45 min Rep. Ron Reynolds
* verifying spelling
Recent Podcasts 