The coronavirus crisis is exposing and exacerbating the racism and injustice embedded in our economy and our health care system.
Years of systematic oppression and discrimination mean that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Black Americans account for only 13% of the population, but represent a third of all deaths from COVID-19. They are being killed at nearly three times the rate as other demographic groups.
Chelsea, home to a vibrant immigrant community, is at the heart of the coronavirus crisis in Massachusetts. The reported rate of infection is 5958 per 100,000 residents, over four times the statewide average.
This is not an accident. This is because the United States has neglected these communities and put them in harm’s way for generations.
Yet, the Trump Administration is more interested in masking the full extent of these atrocities than taking responsibility for the harm they have caused and continue to cause.
That’s why @ewarren, @ayannapressley, and I have joined together on legislation to force the Department of Health and Human Services to release racial and other demographic data on coronavirus patients.
We must make all available data public immediately and use all tools at our disposal to understand the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. This data will help us save lives and protect the most vulnerable communities in our society.
Our country has failed communities of color for a long time. Together, we can and must address these health disparities and begin rectifying generations of injustice.
