In case you missed it, Senator Gary Peters joined Reverend Al Sharpton Sunday on his MSNBC show, PoliticsNation, to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color. Peters also discussed his recently introduced legislation, the 1619 Act, which would provide resources to support African American History educational programs in schools across the country.
PoliticsNation with Reverend Al Sharpton
On COVID-19 Response and Disproportionate Impact on Communities of Color:
- “We know that really the very simple act of wearing a mask saves lives. And that’s something we can all take individual responsibility to do. Wear a mask, maintain social distancing. It’s clear the virus is still out there. We have to do everything we can to slow the spread. And that means being vigilant. It means being vigilant on a daily basis.”
- “The numbers were clear in Michigan. An African American population, roughly 14 percent of the population here in the state, and yet over 40 percent of the deaths. We have been pushing FEMA aggressively to have more data exactly who is sick and who’s not. And what are those communities that are hit the hardest?”
- “It was shocking that they did not have those kinds of numbers to tell us exactly how underserved communities and communities of color impacted. And, you know, unfortunately, this is not the first time. We also have seen that kind of really ignoring major communities that are hit in other disasters, whether it’s a flood or a wildfire or hurricanes, which is why I’ve introduced legislation to create a unit within FEMA to deal with civil rights in underserved communities, to understand that these communities, regardless of the disaster, tend to be hit the hardest. And we need to make sure they have the resources to get through it, which means more resources than other communities for a variety of reasons.”
On 1619 Act:
- “The 1619 Act is resources that will be provided to help with the education of the AfricanAmerican history as well as experience. It’s money provided to the African History Museum, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, to expand their programs, their educational programs, provide curriculum for schools across the country so that Americans learn about African American history and experience.”
- “To me, it’s critical for us, particularly during this very difficult time that we’re in right now, that people understand the history and the experience of our African American communities.”
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