A YWCA town hall held Thursday on Twitter as part of its #StandAgainstRacism campaign focused on how the coronavirus has exposed racism in America.
Prior to the event, which included former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett and former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, YWCA posted a blog claiming that “xenophobia and racism” are part of “how the disease will be remembered,” and that it “has also shone a harsh light on systemic injustices across communities locally and globally.”
The post went on to claim that minorities are “afraid” to wear protective face coverings “[b]ecause of the United States’ history of playing with the lives of people of color. Of ‘hands-up don’t shoot.’ Of Trayvon Martin going to 7/11 to buy some snacks. Of Eric Garner’s ‘I can’t breathe.’ Sandra Bland was just trying to drive a car. Because even when innocent, unarmed, and unmasked, there is potential threat. Imagine what it’s like when masked?” The blog ended, “It’s all systemic. It’s historical.”
To paraphrase Mary McCarthy: every word of that race-mongering blog post is a lie, including “and” and the.”