A bill introduced last week by Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill would classify racism as a nationwide public health crisis. The designation would require two wings within the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to address it.
The Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, is sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). It is also co-sponsored by Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tina Smith (D-MN).
“It is time we start treating structural racism like we would treat any other public health problem or disease: investing in research into its symptoms and causes and finding ways to mitigate its effects,” Warren said.
“My bill with Representatives Lee and Pressley is a first step to create anti-racist federal health policy that studies and addresses disparities in health outcomes at their roots,” she added.
The American Public Health Association declared systemic racism a public health crisis at the beginning of June — shortly after Minneapolis police killed an African-American man, George Floyd, during an arrest.
Photo by Gage Skidmore