DEON JONES

Coming from Wiggins, Mississippi, Deon always looked for a way out to escape the limited opportunities of his hometown. American University in Washington D.C. became a place where he could thrive. He interned for former President Obama’s administration, eventually landing a full-time role working on the President’s TechHire initiative. In 2016, Deon moved to Los Angeles to pursue his other passion, which is music, and he honed his craft and creative skills in the studio of renowned conceptual artist Glenn Kaino. Tragically, in 2020, amidst the backdrop of societal unrest and protests against racial injustice, Deon was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by the LAPD during a march for George Floyd. Deon sued the LAPD and won in federal court, a historic first in the modern era of excessive force by law enforcement throughout the country. After he was shot, Deon released his first recording project, a powerful rendition of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday," alongside Academy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste, who remains an inspiration to him. Over the past five years, he has performed at various events and venues such as Art Basel, Pace Gallery, MASS MoCA, the New Museum and a halftime show during the NBA Playoffs, among others.