LOHP staff joins in expressing our grief and outrage in remembrance of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and all of the other victims of police violence. We also join in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives and commit to doing our part to address and stand against the pervasive racism rooted in our society and institutions. We recognize that police brutality, the militarization of police, and mass incarceration are societal and public health crises that require all of us to unite in urgent action. Any solutions to these crises must include conscious effort to address the systemic racism that is at their core.
American public health history is marred by racist actions that have violated and exploited Black communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is only the latest example of the disparate impacts and health inequities that exist – with the death toll among African Americans being nearly 2.5 times greater than that of whites. As public health practitioners who aim to create healthy, safe and just working conditions for all workers, we know that any effort to advance workers’ health must involve structural change that eliminates the racial and economic disparities at the intersection of work and health.
Today, we also affirm our commitment to being active allies, and listening, learning and following the lead of African American organizers. Please see below for a few resources and an event next week hosted by the Othering and Belonging Institute at Berkeley:
The
Othering and Belonging Institute
will hold an online event (YouTube and Facebook Live) on Monday, June 8, from 2-3:30 p.m., featuring organizers on the frontlines in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, along with our own Professor john a. powell, and Rev. Michael McBride (Live Free USA and Faith in Action). Speakers will examine the history of police violence and inequality on the Black community, the current context of white supremacy and Black resistance, and the possibilities and strategies for a racial justice future.
