Mayor Marl Reads New Resolution Naming Racism as a Public Health Crisis

Saline City Council became the latest local governing body to name racism as a public health crisis.

The resolution, crafted in part by former City Councillor Linda TerHaar, was passed during the consent agenda and read aloud by Mayor Brian Marl during Monday's meeting.

The resolution states a "well-established body of public health research" demonstrates that racism is a social determinant of health and that health inequities are due to racism. The resolution also references recent murders of people of color.  According to the resolution, the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated existing racial inequities and caused disproportionate devastation among people of color.

Saline has been in the news for racist incidents since early February, when racist words and images in a Snapchat between high school football players were posted openly on social media. Around the country, the issue has been at the forefront since Minneapolis police killed George Floyd.

Earlier, during the very meeting Mayor Marl read this resolution, someone joined the Zoom call and scrawled a racial slur.

Below is video of Marl reading resolution.

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