Tell Congress: "Pass the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act to address racism in our health care systems.."
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Friend,
Racism is killing us. From police brutality and effects of COVID-19, to complications at birth and food deserts, this year has shed light on the fact that racism continues to a leading cause of death for Black people in America. Congress must act to address this urgent public health crisis!
Tell Congress: We need an anti-racist public health response!
Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley and Barbara Lee have introduced legislation to fight the public health impacts of structural racism. According to Senator Warren the Anti Racism Public Health Act would:
“...expand research and investment into the public health impacts of structural racism, as well as to require the federal government to begin actively developing anti-racist health policy, by Creating a "National Center for Anti-Racism" at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to declare racism as the public health crisis and Creating a Law Enforcement Violence Prevention Program within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC. Physical and psychological violence perpetrated by law enforcement results in deaths, injuries, trauma, and stress, and disproportionately affects marginalized populations. This bill would take a public health approach to combating police brutality and violence by creating a dedicated law enforcement violence prevention program at the CDC.”
Black people have been murdered in America for 400 years. Sometimes that murder is explicit, like the public lyncings and brutal torture of innocent people. Sometimes, though, that murder is subtle. It’s the murder that exists when Black people don’t receive the same access to healthcare in the midst of a pandemic, and die in greater numbers as a result. It’s the murder that happens when climate-fueled disasters come for people of color first.
Whether the acts of violence are explicit or subtle, they are by design. And it must end.
TELL CONGRESS: Pass the Anti Racism In Public Health Act
America may never fully repair the damage it has done to Black people and communities. It can, however, begin to mitigate that current harm by undoing the structures which have caused so much harm- and replacing them with structures which heal and uplift.
Together, we can create a country which is safe for all of us.
For Future Generations,
Rev Yearwood
Founder & President
Hip Hop Caucus
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