Health ‘experts’ take contradictory stance on protests

Anti-racism is entwined with the story of Covid-19 at every stage. Think of left-wing politicians telling us to hug a Chinese. And now this, from America.

A letter signed by 1,288 self-proclaimed public health professionals, infectious diseases professionals, and undefined “community stakeholders” declares that anti-racist protests “must be supported” and should not be constrained by authorities due to COVID-19 concerns.



But the letter signers then say protests where participants call for lifting “stay at home” orders and reopening businesses and work opportunities should not be allowed, declaring those protests to be “rooted in white nationalism” that runs “contrary to respect for Black lives.”



The letter signers take that stance even though those who have lost jobs due to COVID-19 shutdowns have been disproportionately low-income minorities.
The letter declares that staying at home, social distancing, and public masking should be incorporated into “demonstrations that call attention to the pervasive lethal force of white supremacy,” but says such demonstrations should not be discouraged in the name of preventing COVID-19 spread.



“… [A]s public health advocates, we do not condemn these gatherings as risky for COVID-19 transmission,” the letter states. “We support them as vital to the national public health and to the threatened health specifically of Black people in the United States.”



The letter goes on to say, “This should not be confused with a permissive stance on all gatherings, particularly protests against stay-home orders. Those actions not only oppose public health interventions, but are also rooted in white nationalism and run contrary to respect for Black lives.” 

The emphasis is mine. 

This is not a joke.