Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called for coronavirus reparations for minorities, claiming higher numbers of COVID-19 fatalities in low-income communities stems from underlying inequality.
By Ebony Bowden, New York Post —
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called for coronavirus reparations for minorities, claiming higher numbers of COVID-19 fatalities in low-income communities stems from underlying inequality.
“COVID deaths are disproportionately spiking in Black + Brown communities,” Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted to her 6 million followers on Friday morning.
“Why? Because the chronic toll of redlining, environmental racism, wealth gap, etc. ARE underlying health conditions,” the Bronx-born lawmaker added.
“Inequality is a comorbidity. COVID relief should be drafted with a lens of reparations,” she wrote.
With her district ravaged by the coronavirus, AOC came under fire Friday for participating in a “virtual forum” with constituents — from the comforts of her plush abode in DC.
Congress expanded unemployment benefits in its $2 trillion coronavirus aid package but there was no discussion of reparations for poorer communities.
The Association of American Medical Colleges last month warned the outbreak could be particularly brutal for marginalized communities who can’t afford to miss work and have no way to avoid crowded conditions.
A New York City Department of Health map released Wednesday shows the virus is hitting lower-income neighborhoods harder, with more cases in places such as Brownsville, South Bronx, Flatbush, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst.
The 30-year-old self-described Democratic socialist has been critical of the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, lashing out at Gov. Andrew Cuomo for not temporarily suspending rent payments like he did for mortgage holders.
“We’re kind of creating a class and race issue,” AOC told WNYC’s “The Brian Lehrer Show” on Wednesday.
“We’re essentially rewarding and offering preferential treatment to landowners and folks who are more wealthy, and we’re not offering that same kind of relief to renters.”
This article was originally published by New York Post.
