In clamor to reopen, many blacks feel their safety ignored Many African Americans watching protests calling for easing restrictions meant to slow the spread of the new coronavirus see them as one more example of how their health and their rights just don’t seem to matterFILE - In this June 12, 2019, file photo, the Rev. “Even the thought of opening the country back up shows that African Americans aren’t being valued,” said Jefferson, executive director of the Atlanta-based National African American Tobacco Prevention Network. Some “reopen” protests have included black speakers, and a handful of black people have attended. But many African Americans say the fact that protesters are advocating a riskier path reveals a privileged position — as does their ability to flout social-distancing rules and even brandish weapons. Brian Kemp’s decision to allow some businesses to reopen, recently tweeted an image of a text message that demanded she reopen Atlanta and called her a racial slur.

Source: ABC News May 05, 2020 14:26 UTC