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Several groups to ask St. Pete leaders to declare racism a public health crisis

Posted at 7:03 AM, Nov 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-05 08:40:49-05

ST. PETERSBURG — ST. PETERBURG, Fla. — At Thursday's St. Petersburg City Council Meeting, several groups including The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, the Black Health Equity Alliance, and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete, will request that the city declare racism a public health crisis.

They’re requesting city council to approve a resolution, citing a 2018 Health Equity report by UNITE Pinellas, which states the county has more income inequality, violent crime, domestic violence, and injury deaths than the state average.

The groups say African Americans in Pinellas County are more likely to experience poverty, unemployment, and homicide than their with counterparts.

Since these things have an impact on health, they say racism should be a public health crisis.

If approved, the resolution would be adopted immediately. The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m.