August 15, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 26, Issue 30
who police the police? “Addressing Current & Historical Realties Affecting Our Community”
NO MORE FEAR!
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
Just in case you need any more proof that COVID is indeed REAL and should be taken seriously, this week, the Houston area’s Memorial Hermann Hospital system reimplemented a policy stating that visitors will no longer be allowed at any of its facilities. Why? Because of fear of exposure to the rapidly spreading, highly transmissible Delta variant. Memorial Hermann released a statement saying it believes this difficult decision is
necessary to protect the health and safety of its employees, physician partners, patients and the community, adding that there will be very limited exceptions to the no visitor policy, and all visitors will be required to clear a health screening before entering any facility, and MUST wear a Memorial Hermannprovided mask. If it seems that we are going backwards, it is probably because we are! People are continuing to mistrust the government instead of following the science
and getting the FDA approved COVID-19 vaccines. Reaching high vaccination rates across our communities will be key for achieving broad protection, mitigating the disproportionate impacts of the virus for people of color. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that vaccine equity is an important goal, further defining equity as preferential access and administration to those who have been most affected by COVID-19.
According to KFF. org, White people account for the largest share of people who remain unvaccinated (57%), but Black and Hispanic people are less likely than their White counterparts to have received a vaccine, leaving them at increased risk. Studies have found that many Black Americans are hesitant to get vaccinated because of the nation’s historical atrocities against Blacks when it
Fear cont’d page 4
PROTECT OUR KIDS! By: By: N.L. Preston
Just as our kids are beginning to return to school and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo raised the COVID 19 threat level to RED, a public health showdown began to take center stage as fears grew over sending our vulnerable, unvaccinated children back to school – without masks. Despite COVID-19 numbers increasing, Gov. Greg Abbott declared earlier this month that he would not issue government mandates – not even for masks - as the delta variant has cases and hospitalizations sweeping the nation. The governor’s executive order notes that “no government entity, including a county, city, school district and public health authority” and “any public or private entity that is receiving or will receive public funds” can enforce mask or vaccine mandates. Offenses could lead to Protect cont’d page 5
“OUR VOTE AND OUR MONEY ARE THE TWO MOST POWERFUL THINGS WE HAVE. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THEM TO.” - ROY DOUGLAS MALONSON