Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is taking steps to combat racism as she signed an order on Wednesday, declaring it a public health crisis.

“Racism is a social system with multiple dimensions, including individual racism, which is internalized and interpersonal, and systemic racism, which is institutional or structural,” Whitmer said in the executive directive.

She added, “Both institutional and systemic racism harm individuals and communities and deplete the strength of a whole society through the waste of human resources.”

Whitmer recognized obstacles people of color face including those within the criminal justice system, education, health and infant mortality, jobs, and housing.

According to Whitmer, the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Emergency Physicians have called institutional racism an “urgent public health issue.”

Whitmer discussed racism in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.

She cited statistics suggesting confirmed coronavirus cases for Black American Michigan residents are 14,703 per 1,000,000, which is more than three times higher than the number of infections found among white residents.

She also announced the creation of the Black Leadership Advisory Council within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to “elevate black voices in state government.”

“Since I was sworn in as governor, I have made it a top priority to include more people of color, more women, and more members of the LGBTQ+ community at the table. We’ve been able to build a more inclusive state government, but there is more work to do. That’s why today, I am proud to create the Black Leadership Advisory Council of Michigan,” Whitmer said in a statement.

She continued, “We must confront systemic racism head-on so we can create a more equitable and just Michigan. This is not about one party or person. I hope we can continue to work towards building a more inclusive and unbiased state that works for everyone.”

Whitmer’s order comes amid protests calling for the end to police brutality and racism.

Demonstrations broke out across the country after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, died in May in Minneapolis police custody.