As COVID-19 disproportionately ravages African-American communities, civil rights and faith organizations representing tens of millions of Americans warn of a ‘devastating’ impact on the African-American community if Congress fails to provide aid to struggling state and local governments and front-line public service workers. WASHINGTON — Today, the National Action Network, civil rights leaders, and faith leaders — representing a combined 30,000 congregations of more than 25 million people — sent a joint letter to Congress calling for swift passage of state and local aid in the next stimulus bill. The…
Health & Medicine
Georgia DPH Exceeds 100,000 COVID-19 Tests in 10 Days Testing Now Available to all Georgians Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has reached its goal of testing 100,000 individuals in 10 days. More than 108,000 tests were processed since Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H, set the DPH goal last week. “This is an important benchmark for Georgia as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state,” said Toomey. “Increased testing is critical to understanding where there are hotspots of infection and how best…
By Mrs. Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, First Class, Inc. Fulton County Commissioner (District 6) Joe Carn says, “Our community needs clear and accurate information about the dangers of COVID-19 and additional funding on a block by block level to help flatten the curve in our community.” A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 83% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Georgia during the month of March were African American. African Americans make up only 32% of Georgia’s population. The study included a total of eight Georgia…
ACLU of Georgia Aggressively Protecting African-American Community’s Hard-Won Civil Liberties and Civil Rights by Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, First Class, Inc. Ana Maria Rosato, ACLU Communications Director ATLANTA – Under the leadership of executive director Andrea Young, the ACLU of Georgia is aggressively protecting the African-American community’s hard-won civil liberties and civil rights that are under attack as the COVID pandemic ravages the state and nation. “Any government practice or policy response to the coronavirus must be grounded in science and public health,” Young said. She has called on state officials to…
By Klairane Gumbs America was unprepared for COVID-19. Health, finances, family responsibilities, safety and more are deeply impacted by the global pandemic. Non-essential businesses have closed, forcing millions of Americans out of work and scrambling to file for unemployment insurance. Congress passed an economic stimulus package that, at first glance, seemed like needed relief to those trying to make ends meet. However, the reality is the COVID-19 relief package does not provide enough consumer protections and leaves many low-income households financially broken. Many Americans could be susceptible to financial scams…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Thursday announced the COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act, legislation to bring together health care and other policy experts, community-based organizations, and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders to confront the racial and ethnic disparities of the coronavirus pandemic head on. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the urgent need to address long-standing inequities in our health care system. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, will introduce companion legislation in the House…
You must be logged in to post a comment.