(Editor's Note: It has been a while since I posted a blog and I will be doing so more frequently. This is an op-ed I did that also appeared in Bridge Magazine.)
The current state of the world is filled with both confusion and unrest. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, in addition to a battle with racial injustice and inequality. The heavily publicized death of George Floyd, following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, has sparked global protests from both the Black community and our supporters. Though the pandemic came with a deadly force, it also shed light on the many steps that still need to be taken to move our country forward.
As the
Campaign Outreach Coordinator of the American Civil Liberties Union of
Michigan, I support the public protests that have taken place in
communities across our state. In fact, I have participated in some
and plan to do more. However, I have been concerned
about protestors whose enthusiasm
for racial justice may be jeopardizing their safety, and
the health of those around them. This is personal for me,
and very real. My dear friend, Orville Dale, the seventh person
I know who died from the coronavirus, was buried in June. The pandemic is
not over.
Every day,
it seems, the number of COVID-19 cases reach a new peak. As the
death toll keeps mounting, it should be clear that we all need to do
everything we can to stop its spread, and the deaths it brings.
I am
encouraging everyone, especially the protestors, to wear a mask when
congregating. Black folks and other people of color need to be particularly
vigilant. During the protests, demonstrators I see are
usually standing too close together, which is an easy
way to spread the virus. Remember to remain mindful of the suggestions
given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
health care professionals, which include washing your hands, wearing a
face mask and social distancing to the best of your ability.
While I
realize that it is difficult to remain six feet away
from others during a protest, it is imperative that
you try. It is very possible that while you might feel fine
and have no symptoms, you may still be a carrier of the disease. Asymptomatic
persons harbor and spread the disease but do not suffer from its effects like
others.
