Erica Renee Thomas (born August 12, 1987) is an American politician and youth leader. Thomas was the Georgia State Representative of District 39 from 2015 to 2023. She is also the founder of Speak Out Loud, a local nonprofit dedicated to giving a voice to foster children. She was recognized by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), as a Nonprofit Leader and given the 30 under 30 Award for 2016.[1]
Thomas first gained experience with the General Assembly serving as Legislative Aide to the previous representative from House District 39, she ran for the same office and won in 2014 when her predecessor went ahead to seek a higher office. She is currently serving her second term in office. She is currently serving on the Retirement, Budget and Fiscal Policy, Juvenile Justice and Science and Technology Committees.[3]
In 2015, Thomas was a guest speaker at the Black Business Empowerment Convention of Georgia.[4]
International development leadership and non-profit workedit
Thomas runs Speak Out Loud, a local nonprofit she founded that is dedicated to providing a voice to foster children.[5] The organization has expanded across the country and has chapters in Nigeria. She has also worked to establish libraries in various locations in Africa.[6]
Personal lifeedit
Incident at Publixedit
On July 19, 2019, Thomas alleged a man, Eric Sparkes, "degraded and berated" her while she was in line in a Publix. She stated that Sparkes told her to go back where she came from, a reference to a controversial and allegedly racist tweet by President Donald Trump. Thomas said that she feared for her life and later contacted police requesting the man be charged.[7][8][9][10] Upon completion of their investigation, the Cobb County police announced no charges would be filed.[11] A Publix employee told a Cobb County officer that she witnessed part of the conversation and heard Thomas “continuously tell Eric Sparkes to ‘Go back where you came from!’” but did not hear Sparkes utter those words to Thomas.[12]
Sparkes, who said he is a Democrat and identifies as Cuban-American, denied making a racist comment. He stated that he was instead annoyed with Thomas for bringing too many groceries into the express checkout line.[13][8][14] In a subsequent interview, Thomas said, "I don't know if he said 'go back,' or those types of words ... I don't know if he said 'go back to your country' or 'go back to where you came from,' but he was making those types of references is what I remember."[14]
^ ab"Rep. Erica Thomas (D-39)" (PDF). Georgia House of Representatives. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
^Rogers, Katie; Fandos, Nicholas (July 14, 2019). "Trump Tells Congresswomen to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
^ ab. The Washington Post. Associated Press. July 20, 2019. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
^Wu, Nicholas; Cummings, William (July 20, 2019). "Georgia state lawmaker Erica Thomas now uncertain man told her to 'go back to where you came from'". USA Today. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
^Elliot, Richard (July 22, 2019). "State representative says she was 'scared for her life' during Publix incident". WSB-TV Atlanta. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
^Johnson, Larry Felton (July 23, 2019). "Cobb Police: No Charges In Publix Incident Involving Erica Thomas". Retrieved July 28, 2019.
erica, thomas, erica, renee, thomas, born, august, 1987, american, politician, youth, leader, thomas, georgia, state, representative, district, from, 2015, 2023, also, founder, speak, loud, local, nonprofit, dedicated, giving, voice, foster, children, recogniz. Erica Renee Thomas born August 12 1987 is an American politician and youth leader Thomas was the Georgia State Representative of District 39 from 2015 to 2023 She is also the founder of Speak Out Loud a local nonprofit dedicated to giving a voice to foster children She was recognized by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits GCN as a Nonprofit Leader and given the 30 under 30 Award for 2016 1 Erica ThomasMember of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 39th districtIn office January 12 2015 January 9 2023Preceded byAlisha Thomas MorganSucceeded byTerry CummingsPersonal detailsBorn 1987 08 12 August 12 1987 age 36 Fayetteville North CarolinaPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseOpeyemi AdeyemiResidenceAustell GeorgiaAlma materOakwood University Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 Legislative service 2 2 International development leadership and non profit work 3 Personal life 3 1 Incident at Publix 4 Awards and honors 5 ReferencesEarly life and education editThomas was born in Fayetteville North Carolina and she grew up in Knoxville Tennessee She studied at Carter High School Cocke County High School and Oakwood University 2 Career editLegislative service edit Thomas first gained experience with the General Assembly serving as Legislative Aide to the previous representative from House District 39 she ran for the same office and won in 2014 when her predecessor went ahead to seek a higher office She is currently serving her second term in office She is currently serving on the Retirement Budget and Fiscal Policy Juvenile Justice and Science and Technology Committees 3 In 2015 Thomas was a guest speaker at the Black Business Empowerment Convention of Georgia 4 International development leadership and non profit work edit nbsp Thomas with Congresswoman Karen Bass in 2019 Thomas runs Speak Out Loud a local nonprofit she founded that is dedicated to providing a voice to foster children 5 The organization has expanded across the country and has chapters in Nigeria She has also worked to establish libraries in various locations in Africa 6 Personal life editIncident at Publix edit On July 19 2019 Thomas alleged a man Eric Sparkes degraded and berated her while she was in line in a Publix She stated that Sparkes told her to go back where she came from a reference to a controversial and allegedly racist tweet by President Donald Trump Thomas said that she feared for her life and later contacted police requesting the man be charged 7 8 9 10 Upon completion of their investigation the Cobb County police announced no charges would be filed 11 A Publix employee told a Cobb County officer that she witnessed part of the conversation and heard Thomas continuously tell Eric Sparkes to Go back where you came from but did not hear Sparkes utter those words to Thomas 12 Sparkes who said he is a Democrat and identifies as Cuban American denied making a racist comment He stated that he was instead annoyed with Thomas for bringing too many groceries into the express checkout line 13 8 14 In a subsequent interview Thomas said I don t know if he said go back or those types of words I don t know if he said go back to your country or go back to where you came from but he was making those types of references is what I remember 14 Awards and honors edit2013 Ambassador of Peace Award 6 100 Black Men of America s Image Award 15 Atlanta Leading Ladies 16 National Action Network Action and Authority award 17 References edit 30 Under 30 Award Recipients for 2016 YNPN Atlanta November 1 2016 Archived from the original on November 10 2016 Retrieved January 25 2017 Erica Thomas Erica R Thomas Black Business Empowerment Convention of Georgia ATL Event Listings Archived from the original on February 2 2017 Retrieved January 25 2017 Rep Erica Thomas Biography PDF a b Rep Erica Thomas D 39 PDF Georgia House of Representatives Retrieved January 25 2017 Rogers Katie Fandos Nicholas July 14 2019 Trump Tells Congresswomen to Go Back to the Countries They Came From The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved July 2 2020 a b White man denies saying Go back where you came from The Washington Post Associated Press July 20 2019 Archived from the original on July 20 2019 Retrieved July 21 2019 Wu Nicholas Cummings William July 20 2019 Georgia state lawmaker Erica Thomas now uncertain man told her to go back to where you came from USA Today Retrieved July 21 2019 Elliot Richard July 22 2019 State representative says she was scared for her life during Publix incident WSB TV Atlanta Retrieved July 23 2019 Johnson Larry Felton July 23 2019 Cobb Police No Charges In Publix Incident Involving Erica Thomas Retrieved July 28 2019 Witness disputes Erica Thomas s claims Cleary Tom July 21 2019 Eric Sparkes 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know Heavy com Retrieved July 2 2020 a b Bufkin Ellie July 21 2019 Georgia state Rep Erica Thomas backtracks on racism accusations The Washington Post Retrieved July 21 2019 2015 Annual Youth Achievement Luncheon PDF 100 Black Men of North Metro Inc April 11 2015 Archived from the original PDF on February 2 2017 Retrieved January 25 2017 Caslin Yvette March 22 2016 Atlanta s Leading Ladies at Walker s Legacy Women s Leadership Brunch Rolling Out Retrieved January 25 2017 NAN Honors Women Who Answered The Call To Action National Action Network September 17 2015 Retrieved January 25 2017 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erica Thomas Georgia House of Representatives Preceded byAlisha Thomas Morgan Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 39th district2015 2023 Succeeded byTerry Cummings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erica Thomas amp oldid 1214074317, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
