Breonna Glover Works to Flip Activism into Coverage Making – Georgia State College Information

Breonna Glover has had a career as a lawyer in mind since childhood. Raised in a military family and living abroad, she opened her eyes at a young age to how the law affects people’s lives. Plates rested on placemats with random facts about US presidents and her favorite book is Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”.

No wonder, then, that she graduated from George Washington University with a degree in criminal justice. During her residency, she served as a behavioral justice student, volunteered with Rev. Al Sharpton’s nonprofit National Action Network, and joined the Black Student Union to promote social justice efforts on campus. This time on site made it clear to her that her passion is to interact one-on-one to help clients and inform the public order.

After graduating from GW, she chose Georgia State College of Law for its knowledgeable faculty and friendly environment. This semester, she is improving her skills to assert herself against injustices and is preparing to gain practical experience with customers via the HeLP clinic in the spring.

Given your experience of social activism in college, what moved you to politics and law instead of moving away from it?

It is a struggle to decide which path to go, but learning the law is not a disadvantage. I knew when I went to law school it was a necessary step to do what I actually want to do, which is the legal profession. One thing that drew me to the state of Georgia is how welcoming and not traditional the school is. They don’t compete against each other and all the professors are so helpful. I have been fortunate to have teachers who teach outside the limits of what you are supposed to learn. I had Professor Tanya Washington for civil litigation and I’m in her educational law class.

I’m also currently on a 10-week course called The Justice Initiative, run by the Systemic Justice Project at Harvard Law School and the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center at Howard University School of Law. We meet every Saturday and hear from students, practitioners, professors, and others how we can address injustice. One of the things that struck me is that you can try to reform the system within, or you can be outside the system and disrupt it to get what you want. I’m still trying to decide where I want to be, but I think it’s important to learn how the system itself works in order to make that decision and properly influence changes.

You are currently the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the Georgia State Chapter of the American Constitution Society. How did that happen?

It’s a new role they started this semester. It was created due to recent events, [including the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor]. I applied because it’s about making sure we include diversity and inclusion in all of our events. I remember ACS holding a joint panel on reparations with the Black Law Students Association and the Federalist Society. I like to make sure that all voices and all sides are heard.

Which legal issue do you think more people should pay attention to?

Education is linked to so many social issues. If we can get at least one state to have an ideal model, this can change more than people think. The biggest problem in education is that it is not a fundamental right. It varies from state to state. In Georgia we guarantee adequate training. What does that mean? Quality and accessible education for all should be a prerequisite for a First World country.

Interview by Kelundra Smith