Rep. Eric Bell Issues Statement Regarding Recent Events at HBCUs and Delta State University

ATLANTA - State Representative Eric Bell (D-Jonesboro) today issues the following statement regarding recent events that have taken place at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Delta State University:

"I am deeply saddened by the erosion of American democracy caused by the rise of divisive nationalism and domestic terrorism. The substitution of integrity with corruption and the toleration of authoritarian regimes have created the conditions for acts of political violence and racial retaliation that continue to plague our nation.

"The recent targeting of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities is not merely an attack on institutions of higher learning. It is an assault on the very promise of opportunity, equity and justice in America.

"The lynching of Trey Reed in Mississippi at Delta State University is a horrifying reminder of the deep and unhealed wounds of racial terror in this country. No student should fear for their life because of the color of their skin. No community should be forced to relive the trauma of our nation's darkest chapters made real again in the present.

"We cannot normalize violence as a political weapon, nor can we allow hatred to dictate who deserves safety and dignity. I call on leaders at every level of government to act with urgency, to deliver justice for Trey Reed and his family and to protect all colleges and universities, especially HBCUs, from threats rooted in hate.

"The fight for freedom and equality is far from over. It is our collective responsibility to confront hate wherever it appears and to build a nation where every person, young or old, Black or white, rich or poor, can dream, hope, learn and thrive without fear."

Representative Eric Bell represents the citizens of District 75, which includes a portion of Clayton County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2023 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging and Small Business Development committees.

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