The 2019 graduating class of Spelman College urges the administration to understand that as a result of the behaviors of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; contradicting the very mission and values the college instills in its students, she must no longer be the Spelman College commencement speaker for the graduating class of 2019.

Mayor Bottoms is catalyzing the gentrification of West End Atlanta; She has further displaced the homeless community while simultaneously supporting students (and other community members) being unable to feed these individuals without a permit; And she has refused to respond to the deaths of unarmed black people such as Oscar Cain and Jimmy Atichson by APD but chose to provide the police force with a $10million raise. These actions provide no explanation as to why Spelman College saw fit to award her the National Community Service Award.

While we support Black women, must hold her accountable and urge her to answer to the promises she made the people. Students, Faculty/Staff, and Alumnae, if you agree that the Class of 2019 deserves better, if you believe we deserve a woman that matches the socially just, solution-oriented leaders Spelman College has molded us to be, please sign this petition.