‘A lot of work to do’: Gretchen Whitmer declares racism public health crisis in Michigan

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared racism a public health crisis in the state of Michigan.

“We have a lot of work to do to eliminate the systemic racism that black Americans have experienced for generations,” Whitmer said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, who is black, said the state has established the Black Leadership Advisory Council to fight against systemic racism.

“It is not enough to simply label an injustice,” Gilchrist said. “We have to formally take steps to replace injustice with justice.”

The American Public Health Association lists more than a dozen other states as having declared racism as one of the factors leading to a public health emergency.

“We do know that health inequities at their very core are due to racism,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of APHA. “There’s no doubt about that.”

Whitmer earlier this summer ordered implicit bias training for state staff, including medical professionals, herself, and her executive staff.

Whitmer, a Democrat, has been criticized by Republicans in the state legislature and President Trump for her handling of the coronavirus.

“I think some things are too tough,” Trump said of Whitmer’s executive orders early on in the coronavirus pandemic that restricted travel between residences, among other measures.

Whitmer issued a directive to state agencies to enforce her executive orders regarding mask-wearing, social distancing, and the limiting of large gatherings.

“This fight is not over yet,” Whitmer said. “During the month of July, we saw an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in every region of the state. By allocating the appropriate and needed resources, we can continue to save lives and ensure we don’t have to move backward.”

Related Content