Gov. Whitmer Pledges to Address Systemic Racism In Michigan

Michigan is at a critical point for its ability to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. For weeks, the state has been moving in the wrong direction when it comes to new daily cases. Social media feeds are still littered with images of young people packing together in small spaces like bars and party buses without wearing masks or adhering to social distancing.

“I think that there are so many examples of inequities in the experience of African American residents of Michigan. What we wanted to do was really have some science and heft behind it to really embrace an agenda that makes a meaningful difference.” — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

In response, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has slowed the state’s gradual re-opening process, and she has put stricter measures in place to make sure people are wearing masks in public.

But the governor says that’s not the only public health crisis Michigan faces right now. On Wednesday, Whitmer declared racism a public health crisis and announced the creation of the Black Leadership Advisory Council.

Listen: Governor Whitmer says COVID-19 Highlighted Inequities for Black Michiganders

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the COVID-19 pandemic has “held up a mirror to our country” to examine systemic racism, especially considering that Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by the virus.

She says establishing the Black Leadership Advisory Council is “really the start of what is going to be a much bigger agenda ensuring we have real equity as we come to get our arms around the real disparate impact this disease has had.”

Whitmer says she believes the creation of the council will help to identify and rectify instances of systemic racism in Michigan.

“We’ve got to push that curve down if we’re gonna do this and do it safely.”

“I think that there are so many examples of inequities in the experience of African American residents of Michigan,” Whitmer says. “What we wanted to do was really have some science and heft behind it to really embrace an agenda that makes a meaningful difference.”

Whitmer said that although many major school districts across the country have decided to only offer remote learning for the fall, she is still confident in Michigan’s plan to reopen schools under the guidance of health officials in the Fall. However, she says she is monitoring the situation closely, and is prepared to move the state’s schools to remote learning if infection rates rise.

“We’ve got to push that curve down if we’re gonna do this and do it safely,” Whitmer says. “We’re kind of at a plateau. It’s a high plateau, but it’s better than an increase.”

This post was written by Detroit Today student producer Ali Audet.