In a matter of days, our moral obligation of fighting the systemic racism that affects our communities surpassed staying home to fight coronavirus for hundreds of thousands, in mostly peaceful protests. And last week, in the midst of mass protests and the COVID-19 pandemic, eight states voted, officially making Joe Biden the Democratic nominee. This week’s “5 Essential Updates” includes how mass gatherings could increase COVID-19 cases, children in ICE custody, stopping misinformation, and a comic book about pandemic superheroes.
1. Serious symptoms doubled — Latinos have reported serious COVID-19 symptoms nearly twice as often as non-Latino households, according to a recent analysis. “Overrepresentation of Latinos in front-line jobs” is one of the largest factors, Clarissa Martínez of Unidos US explains.
2. Threat of COVID-19 spikes — Despite calls for social distancing, mass protests and thousands of arrests could increase the spread of coronavirus. Many jailed are Black and Latino people who peacefully protested police brutality, others are essential workers arrested for working past a city’s curfew. The National Bail Fund is collecting funds to help release them from cramped jails.
3. Coronavirus threatens children in ICE custody — No longer top news, children continue being separated from their families at the border during the pandemic. Now, the Trump administration is rushing deportations, and these children are being left to fend for themselves without their parents. Congress Democrats penned a letter demanding Trump stop threatening the health and safety of asylum seekers.
4. Stop misinforming other Latinos! — Reposting a shocking story about coronavirus (or anything else) can share your outrage, but you may be spreading false narratives that trolls, bots, and other groups want distributed. It’s essential that we share accurate links with our circles of influence, and stop promoting false information on the internet. Platforms like The News Literacy project help you fact-check. Before you hit “share” remember to:
- Pause. Don’t let your emotions take over.
- Do a quick search, and look for credible sources.
- Ask the sender for a source.
- Report if the post is dangerous or harmful.
5. Essential Hero Comic Book — Hector Rodríguez III created the best-selling Latino comic book, “El Peso Hero” who defends our gente against corrupt officials, human traffickers and cartels. Rodríguez recently published a special “pandemic” edition to elevate real heroes, including nurses and agricultural workers. Find it free at RioBravoComics.com.
