Dems push Ohio to be first state to declare racism a public health crisis

Citing statistics that show black women are more likely to die during childbirth, black Ohioans are contracting COVID-19 at a disproportionate rate and blacks are heavily participating in protests over the death of George Floyd, Ohio’s black lawmakers introduced resolutions Tuesday in both the state House and Senate to declare racism a public health crisis.

“Thisisnotaconfrontational conversation,” said House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, D-Akron. “If all lives matter, then you need to care about the black lives in this state.”

The resolutions, which would be nonbinding, ask the governor, state agencies and lawmakers to do 16 things. For example, they ask Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to establish a working group to promote racial equality.

They want state agencies to review state laws that may unfairly impact people of color or groups of laws that place unequal burdens on certain communities. And they’d like to create training about workplace biases, educational materials that address racism and “racially equitable workforce development and promotion.”

“These are not new things,” saidthecaucuspresident,Rep. Stephanie Howse, D-Cleveland. “These are things that are vital to ensuring African Americans, Hispanics, indigenous people and people of color here in Ohio can live the American dream.”

The resolutions would be the first of their kind if passed by Ohio’s General Assembly. Columbus City Council declared racism a public health crisis Monday, and the Franklin County Board of Health did so last month. The Columbus Medical Association did the same Tuesday, saying, “Simply put, science tells us stress from racism worsens health. As physicians we are obligated to speak out.”

But no state legislature in the U.S. has done so, Howse said.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, said he plans to review the resolution with DeWine and Senate President Larry Obhof.