The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement hosted an End School-To-Prison Pipeline conference on Saturday to hear from speakers about racial injustice within the school system and alternative disciplinary methods.
Donte Hill was among the 27 Classic City High School 2021 graduates, but there was a point where he was not sure he would be.
When Hill was young, his mother became sick, though he did not know it until years later. During her illness, Hill said he stopped going to school and they lost their home. For a period of time, he would sleep on the hospital floor.
“At the hospital, I walked in the room where my mother had cords attached to her and we couldn t even touch her or hug her. And they told us she had 5 minutes to live, less than 5 minutes to live,” said Hill.