Victims do not think it could happen to them.
Victims may cry or whisper out “I can’t breathe!”
Victims can be impacted by both at the same time!
You can have it and not know it but SPREAD IT AND INFECT OTHERS!
Both are not going anywhere soon, but we must take the proper precautions to combat and prevent.
While COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate, racism is the embodiment of discrimination itself and continues to adversely impact communities of color. Even on UNE’s Biddeford Campus, its affects are felt as students organize Black Lives Matter demonstrations to raise awareness and advocate for antiracist policies and practices. The first took place in June, where over 70 students from the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine and the UNE College of Dental Medicine gathered together in protest of police brutality and continuous health disparities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The most recent demonstration in September was led by members of the UNE Football Team where hundreds of participants wore masks and maintained social distancing to show solidarity with the BLM movement.
As we continue to combat racism during the pandemic, Dr. Dorvil urges us to be mindful and keep one another safe: “As you take part in peaceful gatherings and protests, as WE Engage in meaningful and productive conversations and activities that help us change race relations in this country, we are still in the middle of a PANDEMIC… Don’t ignore that… Please continue to adhere to safety precautions as we navigate through these difficult times!”
Datcha Dorvil, DO ‘08
BLM Demonstration organized by COM and Dental students at UNE
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