CONYERS, Ga. — Chants of “Shut down BioLab” echoed outside Rockdale County Assembly Hall as residents shared personal stories of how the fire’s aftermath continues to impact their lives.
Conyers resident Alex Boy expressed his concerns for his unborn daughter, as his wife was outside during the fire’s peak when chemical smoke filled the skies.
"She is due yesterday. So, we're waiting. Hopefully--any day now--we'll get to see my new daughter. And it's going to be our first," Boy explained. "We're not sure if there's going to be any health issues."
When seeking advice from his wife's doctor, Boy recalled being told, “Can you move?”
For residents like Tiffany Howard, relocating isn’t an option. Living just 300 feet from BioLab, Howard says the fire has compromised her property’s value by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I cannot ethically, reasonably, in good conscience sell my house without disclosing to people that this BioLab incident has happened again in our county,” she said.
Protesters are demanding compensation and accountability from local, city, and state leaders.
Jordan Hinton voiced frustration in the protest, saying, “The government has completely abandoned the people in Conyers.”
Earlier this week, tensions flared at a packed Board of Commissioners meeting, where demonstrators pushed leaders to address their concerns. Initially hesitant to allow public commenters to discuss the fire, Chairman Oz Nesbitt eventually relented under mounting pressure.
Amid the uncertainty, Boy emphasized the need for decisive action: “They have the power to shut it down. If they do that, then I’ll believe in the community government, but until then, we’ll see.”
There may be change on the horizon, as a new commissioner is set to be sworn in on Friday at 3 p.m., with her official term beginning Jan. 1.