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."
During a special episode of Cheddar's Closing Bell in partnership with Cosmopolitan, we discussed the flood of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against men in power, the shift happening for women in the workplace, and how to continue the conversation forward in 2018. Cheddar Anchor Kristen Scholer, Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Michele Promaulayko, and Cosmopolitan Director of Editorial and Business Development Laura Brounstein take a look back at the hour inside the #MeToo movement.
More people are calling for legislation to create a safer environment for women in the workplace. New York City Public Advocate Letitia James explains how she is pushing for change in legislation at the local level.
In 2016 Gretchen Carlson sued her former boss Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. This opened the floodgates for more women to come forward against Ailes. In a special hour in partnership with Cosmopolitan, Carlson shares why she was inspired to speak up.
Between Bells brings you the latest news from the worlds of politics, culture, tech, and business.
Congressman Ro Khanna represents the 17th district of California, better known as Silicon Valley. Khanna says that, despite the administration's insistence Republican tax reform will help the middle class, it will actually help corporations, including big tech companies.
Roy Moore's loss in the Senate election in Alabama came as a surprise to many. It means that Republicans will have an even smaller margin of error when it comes to passing legislation. But, in the long run, how will this impact the GOP?
Despite reports to the contrary, President Trump told reporters he is not firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Independent Journal Review's Jason Howerton joins Cheddar to consider the investigation's future.
The Californian Congressman says America needs to implement changes that go into developing tech industries outside of Silicon Valley.
Bitcoin futures start trading on the CME, and Congressional Democrats call for a hearing on the Disney/Fox deal. Plus tax reform gets closer, weather could have an impact on holiday shopping, and the rise of ICOs.
Jon Miller, White House Correspondent for CRTV, discusses the GOP tax bill, which could be voted on as early as Tuesday. The Republican Party secured the number of votes needed to pass the bill on Friday, when Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Corker jumped on board.
