In Maryland, the Montgomery County Council has introduced a resolution deeming racism a public health crisis.
In an interview with Cheddar, councilmember Will Jawando says disparities the black community faces are staggering. Recent social uprisings might have lit the flame under Jawando to introduce the resolution but the issue of racial inequality goes back hundreds of years, he said.
"Racism is the direct result, for 401 years, we've been either property or legally discriminated against for most of that time," Jawando told Cheddar.
In Montgomery County, systemic racism is not limited to just over-assertive and sometimes lethal policing of the black community, he said. It's also running rampant in the healthcare system. As COVID-19 continues to ravage communities of color nationwide, 18 percent of the black population in his county makes up a quarter of the deaths related to the virus.
For Jawando, racism in the Washington DC suburb is simply a reflection of society on a smaller scale.
"If you look at maternal health and childbirth, black women die at three times the rate," he said. "When they come in with problems, often doctors — look at Serena Williams — don't believe that they're sick."
Introducing the resolution, which he expects to pass next week, is a first step for curing the public health crisis in his county, Jawando said, but he hopes the measure is eventually recognized on both the state and federal levels. He also supports other methods of combating racism including the growing call to defund police departments nationwide.
"We shouldn't have stats driven by policing," he explained. "De-escalation, that should be rewarded just as much as we reward arrests and tickets."
In a Cheddar Special Report, anchors Baker Machado and J.D. Durkin bring you all the latest ahead of President Trump’s first State of the Union address.
RNC National Spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany says that the media leans left and isn't giving President Trump a fair shot. The Daily Beast's Andrew Desiderio discusses McEnany's claims and takes a look at what he expects from President Trump's first State of the Union address.
After one year in office, President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address. Immigration and the economy are expected to take center stage during the night. RNC National Spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany previews what she expects to hear from the president.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) is one of a group of Democrats who will be boycotting President Trump's State of the Union address. She talks to Cheddar about the reasons why.
President Trump is one year into his term. The stock markets are at historically high levels, and unemployment at the lowest levels in years. Washington Examiner's Breaking News Reporter Melissa Quinn gives her take on what we can expect to hear from President Trump during the State of the Union.
Vimeo coming off a big year of changes in 2017. The company's CEO Anjali Sud explains how these changes are driving growth for the company. A look at the business of marijuana on Cheddar's Cannabiz. The New York Times released an investigative piece on the dark world of buying followers and bots for social media fame and recognition. Facebook faces calls to remove its messenger app for kids. The Dow closed today down more than 300 points. The major dip occurred on the same day as President Trump's first State of the Union address.
Amazon is joining forces with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase to bring their employees better and cheaper healthcare. EasyJet's CEO is giving himself a pay cut to match the salary of his female predecessor. Actor Jeff Hiller joins us to discuss stepping into a critically-acclaimed off-Broadway solo show already in progress. Plus, we talk to Chat Sports about the Cleveland Indians' decision to do away with their controversial logo.
New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera points out that having nearby states change taxation and other laws around marijuana could help convince lawmakers in his own state to legalize recreational use as well.
After years of protest, the Cleveland Indians will remove Chief Wahoo from their uniforms starting in 2019. Chat Sports Founder and CEO James Yoder explains the timing behind the team's decision.
President Trump has five days to decide whether to release a classified memo to the public that alleges abuses of power by the Justice Department and FBI in the Russia investigation.
