Black Iowans have been denied right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial


The Declaration of Independence, signed 244 years ago this weekend, purports to be a model for people seeking to free themselves from tyranny.

But nearly two and a half centuries later, this is not yet a nation where all people enjoy the same unalienable rights — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Ongoing protests against racism and police violence offer an important reminder — the dream of freedom has not been realized for Black and brown Americans.

When governments fail to protect our fundamental rights, the Declaration prescribes, the people have the right to alter or abolish oppressive systems, pursuant to their safety and happiness. With inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement, Iowa has an opportunity to start correcting these historic injustices.

Coronavirus

The coronavirus is disproportionately affecting communities of color. People who are Black and Latino are being infected and dying of the disease at a higher rate than their white counterparts. Some of the reasons behind this divide are racial discrimination in health care and that people of color are more likely to work as essential workers.

Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-editorial/black-iowans-have-been-denied-right-to-life-liberty-and-pursuit-of-happiness-20200704