Editor’s note: In February, Laila Errold participated in IDRA’s advocacy training and shadowing event at the Georgia capitol. As she sat in a hearing about Senate Bill 120 that would effectively ban diversity, equity and inclusion in Georgia public schools, she quickly wrote her testimony and presented it before the Georgia Senate Higher Education Committee. The bill failed to be voted out of the Senate but could return in another form next year.
This is my first time at the Capitol [applause]. I would like to start off: My pronouns are she/her. My name is Laila Errold. I am a proud Black student at Dunwoody High School. I’m here to express my outrage against SB 120.
This bill is not just a piece of legislation, it’s an attack on our voices, our experiences, and our right to exist in an educational space that values diversity. This bill tries to erase our stories and our truths. It sends a message that the struggles we face because of our race, our gender and our backgrounds are not worthy of discussion.
Without this bill, I wouldn’t be here due to the course I take, AP African Studies. I refuse to allow anyone to dictate the narrative of my life or the lives of my peers. We are here and our experiences are valid.
When we learn about different cultures, perspectives and histories, we become better thinkers, leaders and citizens. This bill attempts to stifle that growth. And I will not stand by and let it happen. By silencing discussions on race and identity, SB 120 perpetuates ignorance and fear. It tells us that our struggles don’t matter, that our voices don’t matter.
We’re not just students, we’re activists. And we will fight for our right to learn in an environment that embraces rather than shuns diversity.
[© 2025, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the April edition of the IDRA Newsletter. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]
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