FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2020

CONTACT: Kathy Melley, Community Catalyst 

(617) 791-0708

(BOSTON, MA) – As the nation mourns 100,000 deaths due to COVID-19 – with the burden of those deaths falling disproportionately on Black people – last week’s murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer is yet another in a series of examples of police brutality against Black people that have exposed racism deeply rooted in U.S. society. The same racism behind police violence against Black and brown people is also a major driver of the inequities in our health system and the public health crisis the country is facing.

Statement of Emily Stewart, executive director of Community Catalyst, in response to the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade by law enforcement, calling for collective action to dismantle racism and advance policies grounded in equity.

“The murder of George Floyd is an immeasurable loss for his family, friends and community. His murder, like the murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and too many others, also exposes the racism that is deeply embedded in every aspect of American society – in our law enforcement, justice, education, economic and health systems. It is the same racism that is at the root of the disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on people of color, particularly Black, indigenous and Latinx people. Racism is a public health issue – collectively we must do our part to expose it, fight it and work to advance policies and personal behaviors that dismantle it and create a more equitable and just society. Community Catalyst stands with our allies leading the fight for racial justice.”

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @HealthPolicyHub.