Statement on Racism and Public Health
Racism is a public health issue, and here in Indiana and across the United States, we are in crisis. The events of the past several weeks and months have revealed this fact for some and reinforced it for others. Racial injustice must be addressed. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black, Indigenous, People Of Color (BIPOC). Police violence and other injustices committed by law enforcement officers have resulted in the deaths of Dreasjon Reed, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others. Communities of color have historically had limited access to healthy foods, affordable housing, transportation options, and living-wage jobs with sick leave. These issues are structural and long-standing, resulting from both overt and veiled racism, as well as the policies and systems that uphold white supremacy and privilege. The result is poorer quality of life, worse health outcomes, and shorter lifespans for BIPOC.
The Indiana Public Health Association (IPHA) board of directors and staff reaffirm our commitment to achieving the organization’s mission of health equity and well-being for all across the state of Indiana.
We denounce racism and its implications in the day-to-day lives of Hoosiers, and we pledge to do the work required in becoming an anti-racist organization. We will provide leadership in disentangling the systemic and institutionalized racial injustices that lead to disparities and inequities and help to ensure accountability for those who perpetuate the status quo. We invite you – our members, partners, and other public health stakeholders – to join us in taking action that will lead to transformational change and an equitable, healthy, just future for BIPOC in Indiana and beyond.
