Citing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minorities, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order on Wednesday declaring racism a public health crisis and making “health equity” a major goal.
In signing order 2020-9 (pdf), which cites a range of challenging life circumstances that people of color in Michigan experience and links them to “higher vulnerabilities to public health pandemics including COVID-19,” Whitmer called for action that would “confront systemic racism head on so we can create a more equitable and just Michigan.”
