Policing and COVID-19 Disparities: Discrimination, Racism, and Xenophobia

COMMENTARY

What Happens to a Dream Deferred?
by Langston Hughes

Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Since early 2020, the US has been in the midst of a worldwide pandemic due to a deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Physicians, per their oath, “leaned in” to serve on the front line, prevent further spread, and treat the sick. To date, COVID-19 continues to challenge public health infrastructure, out-pace hospital and physician capacity, make people ill, and kill on a global scale. Much the same can be said about the not so novel racism virus. Its current and tragic toll upon generations of racial and ethnic minority Americans (eg, African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Native Americans and Pacific Islanders), continues to make our society sick, contributing to accelerated aging and premature morbidity and mortality.

Although the US was founded on “liberty and justice for all,” discrimination, racism, and xenophobia existed worldwide prior to the country’s birth and continues to persist. One can argue racism is a much deadlier, more virulent, and more pervasive disease than COVID-19. Like crabgrass and thorny weeds in a beautiful perennial garden, both must be extinguished for the US to reach its full promise. Considering the changing demographics in the US: an increasingly minority, female, and aging society (ie, a minority majority society), it is our imperative to do so.

Under the emerging coronavirus shadow and as the US rapidly ascended the COVID-19 climb curve, young and old people became infected and died, including people without predisposing conditions. No person or community was immune as health professionals and scientists primarily focused on developing COVID-19 public service announcements, flattening the curve, and inventing an effective vaccine.

On February 23, 2020, there were 53 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.¹ Mr Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed African American man went jogging in his Glynn County, Georgia neighborhood when he was pursued, confronted, and fatally shot by two armed white residents, as another white resident detained him and videotaped the encounter, and a racial slur was uttered.² The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released the autopsy results revealing that Mr Arbery was shot 3 times—his death was ruled a homicide and charges were filed against the perpetrators 74 days later. The circumstances surrounding his death and subsequent delay in filing charges were almost overlooked.

On March 13, 2020, there were 565 cases and 8 deaths due to COVID-19 nationwide.¹ Like others across the country, our university and clinics began to shutter and a “stay at home” order was implemented. In Louisville, KY, just after midnight, a no-knock narcotics raid was conducted on the home of Ms Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African American woman EMT, emergency room technician, and aspiring nurse.³ Ms Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Mr Kenneth Walker. Despite already having the primary suspect in custody, police elected to use a battering ram to forcibly enter Ms Taylor’s home. Mr Walker feared for their lives and shot in self-defense—wounding one officer. Ms Taylor was shot at least 8 times and died. Of note, the police assert they knocked and identified themselves prior to entry, no drugs were found in Ms Taylor’s home, Mr Walker had a permit to carry a gun, and the initial charge of attempted murder of a police officer filed against Mr Walker was dismissed.

On May 5, 2020, there were 1,173,257 cases and 62,806 deaths due to COVID-19 nationwide.¹ Mr Arbery’s death finally received national attention when the video began circulating on social media. Like Mr Arbery, the circumstances surrounding Ms Taylor’s death was delayed until shared on social media.

Two defining moments occurred on May 25, 2020. There were 1,592,599 cases and 92,762 deaths due to COVID-19 nationwide.¹ Mr Christian Cooper an unarmed African American man and Harvard alum was birdwatching in Manhattan’s Central Park.⁴ He noticed an unleashed cocker spaniel digging up shrubbery and disturbing the bird sanctuary, and asked the dog’s owner, a white woman, to comply with park rules and leash the dog. Instead, she stated, “I’m going to tell them (the police) there’s an African American man threatening my life.” She called 911, feigned hysterical fear as Mr Cooper videotaped their interaction and her conversation with the police dispatcher. Although her dog was taken away, to date no charges were filed against her for filing a false police complaint. The New York Commission on Human Rights started an investigation and her dog was returned to her care.

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