Police brutality must stop | American Medical Association

Police brutality must stop | American Medical Association

Medical societies condemn racism against Black communities

As we enter the second week of protests in response to George Floyd's killing by police in Minnesota, several medical societies have publicly condemned not only the police brutality that endures in the U.S., but also the systemic racism that has a ripple effect on health. Here's some of what's been shared:

• On police brutality: In a recent statement, leaders of the American Medical Association — including Patrice Harris, the organization's first Black woman president — wrote, "In any season, police violence is an injustice, but its harm is elevated amidst the remarkable stress people are facing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic."
• On racism and children's health: "Racism harms children’s health, starting from before they are born," American Academy of Pediatrics President Sally Goza said. "A growing body of research supports this, and we cannot ignore the impact." The AAP also shared resources on talking to children about racism, which can be found here. 
• On systemic racism: "Centuries of systemic and institutional racism toward Black Americans has led to decreased access to health care and multiple adverse health outcomes — as recently seen during the COVID-19 pandemic — in addition to anxiety and lower life expectancy," American Psychiatric Association CEO Saul Levin said.