he political chaos of the past few weeks has drawn much of our focus away from COVID-19, but the fact remains that we’re still in the middle of a deadly pandemic. While the vaccine has brought some hope, its slow rollout and inequities in access are a major source of concern.
Though the pandemic has affected all of our lives, COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on non-white communities. In November, the American Heart Association found that nearly 60% of people hospitalized for COVID were Black or Hispanic despite the fact that only 20% of folks in the surrounding area identified as Black and/or Hispanic according to the census. Another study found that the COVID-19 death rate among Black Americans is nearly three times higher than that among white Americans.
Correctional facilities have also been brutally affected by COVID-19, where Black people are disproportionately represented. In December, the NYS Department of Corrections reported a 71% increase in COVID cases. Yet help is not coming soon enough--only half of US states are prioritizing vaccine distribution to incarcerated people ahead of the general population. In NY, political leaders have been sending mixed messages about whether or not the incarcerated population will be prioritized in phase 1B of vaccination.
In response, organizations such as the Center for Community Alternatives, Release Aging People in Prison, the #HALT Solitary Confinement Campaign, and FWD.us have all called on the New York State Dept. of Health to ensure that all incarcerated New Yorkers have early access to the vaccine.
As white people fighting for racial justice we must advocate for vaccine prioritization in minority and low-income communities and in prisons as well as support organizations working to increase awareness and access in these communities. This week, among other things, try jumping onto the #FreeThemAll phone zap on Friday, get involved with our Anti-Mass Incarceration working group on Monday, or join the People's Campaign for Parole Justice for a virtual advocacy day next Wednesday, January 27, in support of the Elder Parole and Fair and Timely Parole bill initiatives.
In solidarity,
SURJ NYC