Today Marks 10 Years of Modern Segregation in Georgia
On October 13, 2010, the Georgia Board of Regents’ passed Policy 4.1.6 and 4.3.4, which bans undocumented students from equal access to public higher education in Georgia.
October 13, 2020 marks the 10-year anniversary of the resegregation of Georgia public universities. Today, it is still illegal for undocumented students and US citizens to learn in the same classrooms at UGA, Georgia Tech, and Georgia College.
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis, Executive Director of Freedom University, explains: “The same Georgia public universities that ban undocumented students today also banned Black students in 1960. Just as young Black freedom fighters organized and defeated educational segregation then, undocumented freedom fighters will defeat it today."
For nearly a decade, Freedom University students and their allies have been on the front lines of the struggle to end modern educational segregation. They have mobilized thousands and have successfully changed admissions policies at private universities across Georgia. Despite years of creative nonviolent civil disobedience and many arrests of students and activists, the Georgia Board of Regents has refused to repeal Policy 4.1.6 and 4.3.4.
The 19-member Board of Regents sets policies governing the University System of Georgia. Appointed by the Governor of Georgia, they are unelected representatives who have upheld the most discriminatory bans against undocumented students in the country.
Despite setting educational policies for the University System of Georgia, only one of the 19 Board of Regents’ members has any qualifications in educational policy. Here is a breakdown of their fields of expertise:
Real Estate: 6
Banking: 6
Construction: 2
Healthcare: 2
Paper Shredding: 1
Corrugated Packaging: 1
Education: 1
Georgia Board of Regents member Dean Alford was arrested in October 2019 and charged with racketeering for misdirecting Georgia taxpayer funds. He allegedly forged a University of Georgia employee signature to direct nearly $500,000 to his energy corporation.
Meanwhile, undocumented immigrants in Georgia contribute $352 million annually in state and local taxes, which help fund the universities they are barred from attending.
Call to Action
To support undocumented students in their struggle to gain equal access to public higher education in Georgia, you can:
1) Phone Bank the Board of Regents:
Ask them to fulfill their mission “to create a more educated Georgia” and
Repeal Policy 4.1.6 and 4.3.4
End Modern Educational Segregation
Uphold the Human Right to Education
2) Join organized efforts:
Freedom University: @fu_georgia
University of Georgia: @usa.atuga
Georgia Tech: @ydsagt
Georgia College: @gcydsa
Despite the bans, the Georgia Board of Regents haven't stopped undocumented young people. Because of our students’ determination, the love of their family, and the support of their Freedom University community, 50% of our students have won full scholarships to college over the last three years. But the 5,000 undocumented young people who graduate Georgia high schools every year should not have to attend an underground school in order to go to college. They should have equal access to higher education because they are human beings with full dignity and rights. Demand the Board of Regents repeal Policy 4.1.6 and 4.3.4 today.
“If they won’t let us dream, we won’t let them sleep.”
Sincerely,
All of us at Freedom University
