Witnesses to 'unrelenting pain'; CCO issues 7 demands in KC's COVID-19 response
A screen shot shows the panel of speakers with Communities Creating Opportunity on Facebook Live.
There cannot be a “colorblind” response to how Kansas CIty delivers aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, said speakers in a Facebook Live rally by Communities Creating Opportunity Thursday.
The city must “bear witness to the deep unrelenting pain . . . (of) a racialized system,” said CCO board member Rev. Susan McCann. And understand that the virus has “exacerbated the historic wounds of the black community.”
“We must insist on a just response,” she said. “An equitable response. A moral response.”
Kansas City 3rd District resident Deontae Fletcher wears a protective mask in a picture by The Kansas City Star’s Rich Sugg.
CCO’s leaders said they had issued warnings weeks ago that the city needs to take extra steps to protect residents in vulnerable communities east of Troost Avenue.
None was surprised when the city reported this past week that more than half of the cases of coronavirus were black residents in a city that is only 30% black.
The organization of community and church leadership issued seven demands that it says is needed to ease the imbalance of pain on people of color and people of low income and poor health.
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Accurate and transparent data of who dies of COVID-19, including age, race and ZIP Code.
Adequate financial assistance from the city for those who lost jobs.
Universal free child care for parents and guardians who have to continue working during the pandemic.
Forgiveness of utility bills and a continued ban on evictions.
Safe housing provided for people who are homeless — utilizing hotels, schools and other vacant buildings.
A city-coordinated food distribution network, rather than leaving the responsibility to churches that are strapped for funds.
A multi-disciplinary rapid-response team of city services that will respond to hot spots of coronavirus outbreaks, especially in Kansas City’s 3rd City Council district, with adequate testing, education and access to treatment.
The 3rd District east of Troost is suffering the highest number of COVID-19 cases compared to other districts.
“My heart is just breaking,” said 3rd District resident and parent of three children, Toriana Saddler. “So many people are struggling.”
The area of Kansas City east of Troost has a high percentage of people who are not able to work at home, McCann said.
“Many are working for poverty wages with no sick-leave and no vacation,” McCann said. And many “have jobs that have been deemed ‘essential.’ They are putting their lives at risk to care for the sick, keep grocery stores stocked and pick up our garbage.”
The 3rd District’s struggle in the pandemic “is not a new reality,” said the Rev. Wallace Hartsfield II, pastor of Missionary Baptist Church, “but a worsening of existing conditions.
“Skin color has always been a matter of life and death.”