Ohio Legislator Who Questioned Black Hygiene To Lead Health Panel
Sen. Stephen Huffman was appointed to the state s Senate Health Committee despite questioning whether “the colored population” was disproportionately contracting the coronavirus because of their hygiene.
Farnoush Amiri
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) A Republican lawmaker and doctor who questioned whether members of “the colored population” were disproportionately contracting the coronavirus because of their hygiene is drawing new criticism from Black lawmakers after his appointment to lead the state Senate Health Committee.
“Could it just be that African Americans – or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear masks? Or do not socially distance themselves?” state Sen. Stephen Huffman asked a Black health expert in June 11 testimony. “Could that just be the explanation of why there’s a higher incidence?”
COLUMBUS, Ohio
A Republican lawmaker and doctor who questioned whether members of “the colored population” were disproportionately contracting the coronavirus because of their hygiene is drawing new criticism from Black lawmakers after his appointment to lead the state Senate Health Committee.
“Could it just be that African Americans – or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear masks? Or do not socially distance themselves?” state Sen. Stephen Huffman asked a Black health expert in June 11 testimony. “Could that just be the explanation of why there’s a higher incidence?”
The comments resulted in calls from Democrats and the ACLU of Ohio for him to resign from the GOP-controlled Senate.
Ohio legislator who questioned Black hygiene is appointed by his cousin to lead health panel
By Farnoush Amiri - Report for America/Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) A Republican lawmaker and doctor who questioned whether members of “the colored population” were disproportionately contracting the coronavirus because of their hygiene is drawing new criticism from Black lawmakers after his appointment to lead the state Senate Health Committee.
“Could it just be that African Americans – or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear masks? Or do not socially distance themselves?” state Sen. Stephen Huffman asked a Black health expert in June 11 testimony. “Could that just be the explanation of why there’s a higher incidence?”
Ohio lawmaker who questioned Black people s hygiene gets post nydailynews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nydailynews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Black state lawmakers are questioning the ability of the new Ohio Senate Health Committee chair to understand the health needs of minorities because seven months ago he asked whether “colored” people had poor sanitary habits that made them more susceptible to COVID-19.
The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus demands a health committee leader who understands and can help enact health policy that addresses inequities in our state without political influence, said director Tony Bishop in a release Wednesday evening.
The controversy centers on June remarks from Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, during a health committee meeting on whether racism should be deemed a public health crisis in Ohio. The measure, which never came to a vote, generated a discussion about racial disparities in COVID-19 infection rates.