Racism Is A Public Health Crisis
Coalition for a Better Acre asks the community to write to City Councillors by Tuesday, July 14th, asking them to support Mayor Leahy’s motions 11.11 and 11.12, which establish first steps for creating an equitable and inclusive Lowell.
Councillors can be contacted here. Lowell City Councillors Drinkwater, Nuon, and Leahy have already indicated their strong support for real action, while Councillors Rourke, Chau, Mercier, Elliot, and Samaras have not committed to declaring racism a public health crisis.
If you are able to do so safely, we invite you to stand with us outside of City Hall on Tuesday, July 14th at 4:30 to hear community members speak on the need for substantial action to fight racism. Event details here.
On June 24th, Lowell residents and community leaders spoke to the racism that persists everywhere, even within the City of Lowell. CBA stands with these speakers, and wholeheartedly supports the request to declare racism as a public health crisis.
The recording of the Lowell Listens: Community Listening Session can be accessed here.
CBA advocates for city leaders to declare racism as a public health crisis. This is the first step in addressing how racially unjust systems create poor health outcomes for people of color. A letter drafted by the Merrimack Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consortium outlines why this declaration is necessary, and five steps to begin to address racism in our institutions.