STATEMENT: Data Shows COVID-19 Disproportionately Affects Black Communities

This week, Mayor Lightfoot shared data showing that Black Chicagoans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, with Black Chicagoans making up more than 70 percent of fatalities in the city.

Here’s what we know for a fact: This devastating impact was only made possible by the same structural inequalities that have for centuries kept Black communities from equal access to health care, community investment, and other resources that influence individual health.

For more than 30 years, Legal Council has fought for health justice and health equity. We’ve seen firsthand how devastating systemic racism can be in Illinois. This crisis has only exacerbated an already stressful situation. When we say health justice for all, we mean it. Our work will continue to prioritize the needs of these communities. And we will lead this fight for as long as it takes to fix our systems so that they work well for everyone.