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[ [link removed] ]TAKE ACTION

John, 

Being a Black person living in this country feels increasingly difficult.
We are still trying to survive two deadly viruses at the same time:
COVID-19 and racism. I am tired, and I know that you must be too. 

With the discovery of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, we are now
witnessing the same anti-Black racism experienced here in the United
States being directed at an entire continent of people. Though the Omicron
variant was in Europe long before it traveled to South Africa, media
outlets have dubbed it the “South African variant.”^[ [link removed] ]1 And while
research scientists in South Africa detected Omicron only after robust
testing and sequencing, their contributions to the fight against COVID-19
are being overshadowed by false reports that the country is to blame for
the spike in cases around the world.^[ [link removed] ]2 In direct response to the
hysteria that ensued, the United States implemented discriminatory travel
bans targeting South Africa and other African countries (e.g., Botswana,
Zimbabwe, Mozambique). 

The media’s stigmatization around coronavirus and the African continent
must end here. 

[ [link removed] ]SIGN THE PETITION: Tell the media to stop perpetuating false and racist
narratives that harm an entire continent of Black people.

What we’re witnessing happened in the early days as COVID-19 was uncovered
in China. The racism and xenophobia that emerged then are showing now. The
media should be ashamed of enabling racist narratives—it simply has to
stop. Now is the time to demand better narratives that truly capture the
breadth of who we are. 

The continent should not be known for this infectious disease, but rather
its cultural richness and natural beauty. And the South African
researchers who detected the variant should not be shunned, but applauded
for sounding the alarm on this public health threat.^[ [link removed] ]3 

This email has been difficult to write, but I must tell you the truth:
This means we must fight harder to hold the media accountable for its
treatment and narratives of Black people. 

[ [link removed] ]SIGN THE PETITION: Tell the media to stop perpetuating false and racist
narratives that harm an entire continent of Black people. 

Until justice is real,

— Jade, Johnny, Erica, Amanda, Evan, Sam, FolaSade, Imani, Eesha,
Gabrielle, Marie, Taurjhai, Angel, Stasia, Jennette, and Ciera 

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References:

 1. “Omicron COVID variant was in Europe before South African scientists
detected and flagged it to the world,” CBS News, November 30, 2021,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

 2. Saumya Kalia, “Omicron variant did not ‘originate’ in South Africa, it
was ‘detected’ there. The difference matters,” The Swaddle, December
2, 2021,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
​​

 3. “COVID: South Africa ‘punished’ for detecting new Omicron variant,”
BBC, November 28, 2021, [ [link removed] ][link removed]



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