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The Green Party has backed calls for an independent inquiry into the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic people.
Greens of Colour chairperson Azzees Minott said: “The government’s inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on BAME people has let communities of colour down.
“It has been clear from the start that this review simply was not going to go far enough because it was never going to address the institutional racism that affects people of colour, particularly in the context of Covid-19.
“We have known since the beginning of this crisis that communities of colour are more at risk because of the social injustices that result in wide health, housing and employment inequalities within society.
“It is simply not acceptable that this report deliberately left out the impact of public health cuts, the experience of BAME frontline staff and the effectiveness of government messaging.
“It is also extremely worrying to hear reports that Matt Hancock’s office may have removed key parts of the report which showed how discrimination and poorer life chances played a part in the increased risk to communities of colour. [1]
“We are backing the wider calls for an independent inquiry. It is time for the demands of the We Need Answers campaign to be heard.” [2]
Bristol Green Councillor Cleo Lake says:
“What we are seeing right now, both here and in the US, is a coming to a head of issues that have been effecting African heritage communities inter-generationally for many, many years.
“Black Lives Matter as a movement is not attached to any isolated incident but of all ongoing incidents including the deadly inequalities highlighted in recent COVID reports.
“Racism and inequality in all its guises kills, and change can only happen if as many people as possible condemn it. We must do better as a society to hear, stand with and act on the voices of struggle.”
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