Thread by @broadwaybabyto

Violet Affleck’s speech to LA officials about mask bans and Covid mitigations stuck with me. To witness such a young person with tremendous privilege stand up for those less fortunate was inspiring to see.

A 🧵 on Covid caution, mask bans, privilege & lack of public health /1

I’ve long admired Violet for her unflinching commitment to wearing a respirator in public - even when no one else around her are willing to mask up. She’s a public figure & has been subjected to a lot of harsh criticism. Yet she remains the lone masker in every public photo /2

When she gave her speech to LA officials - she only had one minute to explain her position and reasons for advocating for Covid mitigations - and she made the most of that minute. I saw poise, compassion and grace under pressure… and I felt inspired. /3

I didn’t know she was only 18 - nor did I know she had suffered from a post viral illness when she was young. She was only 13 or 14 when she became ill - yet smart enough to recognize she doesn’t want to risk something like that happening again. She knows the value of health /4

We can reasonably infer from the timeline that she doesn’t have Long Covid - but that she recognizes Covid’s potential to disable and the protective value of a well fitted respirator. She understands what her health is worth. Because at one point - she didn’t have it. /5

Violet has tremendous privilege - and she doesn’t hide it. Her wealth and famous parents afford her the ability to protect herself in a way many people can only dream of. The cost of respirators, eye protection, HEPAs, tests and vaccines wouldn’t be an issue for her. /6

Yet rather than simply protecting herself - she’s advocating for those less fortunate. At 18 years old she could easily spend her days doing far more “fun” actitivies than speaking before an LA committee on Covid mitigations and mask bans. /7

She could silently protect herself and avoid all the vitriol & criticisms that are lobbied at her whenever she appears masked in public or speaks about Covid. She could have an “easier” existence. Instead she’s making a choice to do whatever she can to protect whoever she can /8

Her speech focused on the harms that mask bans cause - highlighting the fact that people deserve the right to protect themselves from airborne viruses. She also spoke of hospitals, schools & prisons. Places people have no choice but to go & no agency in how they’re treated /9

She addressed the elephant in the room head on - which is that the current “you do you” approach to the pandemic leaves many of our most vulnerable forced to endure repeated infections because they either can’t afford or can’t access the mitigation tools they need. /10

The replies many of us receive everytime we talk about Covid mitigations are a perfect example of the privilege I’m talking about. How often do we hear “if your mask works why do I need one?” Or “just stay home”? /11

Comments like this completely ignore the fact that MOST people can’t afford to “just stay home”. They have to work, their children have to go to school, they have to access healthcare. As for masks - good quality respirators cost money. They’re out of reach for many people. /12

Financial circumstances and privilege shouldn’t dictate your ability to avoid death or disability. Yet far too often money and privilege are the only factors in retaining one’s health. When we gave up on society wide mitigations - we condemned many people to repeat infections /13

We need to rectify this situation before it’s too late. We need public health to do their job. To educate people on the risks of COVID as well as how to prevent infection. We need free masks, tests, vaccines & treatments. We need clean air & mask mandates in healthcare /14

Preventing covid transmission is not as hard as we’ve been led to believe - repeat infections are NOT inevitable. But it requires effort at a societal level. It requires commitment to stop living in denial. It requires us to care about people who are less fortunate than us /15

At only 18 years old - Violet Affleck has figured this out. She’s fighting for what she knows is right. She needs more allies fighting with her. If you’re in a position of privilege please stand up for those who aren’t. Elevate disabled voices & respect our lived experience /16

Wear a mask in solidarity. Show you care about stopping transmission. Donate to a local mask bloc. Call your elected officials and demand an end to mask bans and a push for sensible covid mitigations. Stay home when sick. Fight for what’s right. It’s not too late. /end