Erica Thomas#Incident at Publix

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Erica Thomas

| image = Erica_Thomas.jpg

| state_house = Georgia

| term_start = January 12, 2015

| term_end = January 9, 2023

| district = 39th

| predecessor = Alisha Thomas Morgan

| successor = Terry Cummings

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|08|12}}

| birth_place = Fayetteville, North Carolina

| party = Democratic

| residence = Austell, Georgia

| spouse = Opeyemi Adeyemi

| alma_mater = Oakwood University

}}

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.{{cite web|title=30 Under 30 Award Recipients for 2016|publisher=YNPN Atlanta|url=http://www.ynpnatlanta.org/30_under_30_award_recipients_2016|date=November 1, 2016|access-date=January 25, 2017|archive-date=November 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110160025/http://www.ynpnatlanta.org/30_under_30_award_recipients_2016|url-status=dead}}

Early life and education

Thomas 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericareneethomas|title=Erica Thomas}}

Career

=Legislative service=

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.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Erica_R._Thomas|title=Erica R. Thomas}}

In 2015, Thomas was a guest speaker at the Black Business Empowerment Convention of Georgia.{{cite web|title=Black Business Empowerment Convention of Georgia|publisher=ATL Event Listings|url=http://www.atleventlistings.com/2015-black-business-empowerment-convention-of-georgia/|access-date=January 25, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202031753/http://www.atleventlistings.com/2015-black-business-empowerment-convention-of-georgia/|url-status=dead}}

=International development leadership and non-profit work=

File:Erica Thomas with Karen Bass - 2019 01.jpg in 2019.]]

Thomas runs Speak Out Loud, a local nonprofit she founded that is dedicated to providing a voice to foster children.{{Cite web|url=http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/Biographies/thomasErica.pdf|title=Rep. Erica Thomas Biography}} The organization has expanded across the country and has chapters in Nigeria. She has also worked to establish libraries in various locations in Africa.{{cite web|url=http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/Biographies/thomasErica.pdf|title=Rep. Erica Thomas (D-39)|publisher=Georgia House of Representatives|access-date=January 25, 2017}}

Personal life

=Incident at Publix=

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.{{Cite news|last1=Rogers|first1=Katie|last2=Fandos|first2=Nicholas|date=2019-07-14|title=Trump Tells Congresswomen to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/14/us/politics/trump-twitter-squad-congress.html|access-date=2020-07-02|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 20, 2019|access-date=July 21, 2019|title=White man denies saying 'Go back where you came from'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/black-lawmaker-white-man-said-go-back-where-you-came-from/2019/07/19/8e331406-aa84-11e9-8733-48c87235f396_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720053634/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/black-lawmaker-white-man-said-go-back-where-you-came-from/2019/07/19/8e331406-aa84-11e9-8733-48c87235f396_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 20, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/20/erica-thomas-georgia-lawmaker-claims-man-verbally-assaulted-her/1786405001/ |title= Georgia state lawmaker Erica Thomas now uncertain man told her to 'go back to where you came from' |last1=Wu |first1=Nicholas |last2=Cummings |first2=William |date=July 20, 2019 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=July 21, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/state-representative-says-she-was-scared-for-her-life-during-publix-incident/969089249 |title=State representative says she was 'scared for her life' during Publix incident |last=Elliot |first=Richard |date=July 22, 2019 |publisher=WSB-TV Atlanta |access-date=July 23, 2019}} Upon completion of their investigation, the Cobb County police announced no charges would be filed.{{Cite web |url=https://cobbcountycourier.com/2019/07/cobb-police-no-charges-in-publix-incident-involving-erica-thomas/ |title=Cobb Police: No Charges In Publix Incident Involving Erica Thomas |last=Johnson |first=Larry Felton |date=2019-07-23 |access-date=2019-07-28}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/cobb-police-charges-will-filed-georgia-lawmaker-publix-dispute/fp9t5RJLXVSOTaMnVLmHEP/ |title=Witness disputes Erica Thomas's claims}}

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.{{Cite web|last=Cleary|first=Tom|date=2019-07-21|title=Eric Sparkes: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|url=https://heavy.com/news/2019/07/eric-sparkes/|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Heavy.com|language=en-US}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/georgia-state-rep-erica-thomas-backtracks-on-racism-accusations |title=Georgia state Rep. Erica Thomas backtracks on racism accusations |last=Bufkin |first=Ellie |date=July 21, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 21, 2019}} 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."

Awards and honors

2013 Ambassador of Peace Award
100 Black Men of America's Image Award{{cite web|title=2015 Annual Youth Achievement Luncheon|publisher=100 Black Men of North Metro, Inc.|url=http://www.northmetro100.org/images/events/luncheon-2015/2015_YAL_Program.pdf|date=April 11, 2015|access-date=January 25, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202031516/http://www.northmetro100.org/images/events/luncheon-2015/2015_YAL_Program.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Atlanta Leading Ladies{{cite web|first=Yvette|last=Caslin|title=Atlanta's Leading Ladies at Walker's Legacy Women's Leadership Brunch|work=Rolling Out|url=http://rollingout.com/2016/03/22/atlantas-leading-ladies-at-walkers-legacy-womens-leadership-brunch/|date=March 22, 2016|access-date=January 25, 2017}}
National Action Network Action and Authority award{{cite web|title=NAN Honors Women Who Answered The Call To Action|publisher=National Action Network|url=http://nationalactionnetwork.net/featured/nan-honors-women-who-answered-the-call-to-action/|date=September 17, 2015|access-date=January 25, 2017}}