Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) claimed that if reparations for slavery had been implemented, that might have helped to contain the spread of COVID during the recent global pandemic.

Jackson Lee took to the House floor on Thursday to rally support for H.R. 40, a bill that would establish a congressional commission to study the potential cost and impact of reparations.

Noting that COVID infection rates among minority communities had initially appeared to be greater than among white Americans or the population at large, Jackson Lee cited a Harvard Medical School study that said living conditions — and work environments in the African American community were more conducive to the virus’ rapid spread.

WATCH:

REP. JACKSON LEE: "Reparations for African-Americans could have cut COVID-19 transmission and infection rates both among blacks and the population at large." pic.twitter.com/GpgKBr2AHf

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 17, 2022

“There is no doubt we have been impacted, that DNA in the trajectory of slavery to today. For example, COVID. Black African Americans have gotten COVID at a rate of nearly 1.5 times higher than that of white people, or hospitalized at a rate of nearly four times higher and three times likely to die. COVID hit us very desperately,” Jackson Lee began.

She explained that reparations could have moved the needle among African Americans by decreasing the wealth gap and allowing more people to access better health care, better education, and potentially less crowded living conditions.

“Reparations for African Americans could have cut COVID-19 transmission and infection rates both among blacks and the population at large,” the Texas Congresswoman continued. “Reparations are curative, they’re not punishment. The analysis continued to look at data throughout the nation.”

“Wealth is more strongly associated with familial or individual well-being,” said study co-author William Darity, the Samuel DuBois Cook Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Duke University and a Lancet reparations commissioner. He explained that black Americans have a much lower average net worth than white Americans, adding, “This dramatically restricts the ability of Black Americans to survive and thrive.”

While Jackson Lee’s initial data was correct — black Americans did see higher infection, hospitalization, and death rates in the early months of the pandemic — more recent data show that death rates across racial demographics eventually evened out. As of October, the death rate among white Americans — according to data evaluated by The Washington Post — had “eclipsed” that of other groups.

Crime scene tape is stretched around the front of a home where a man was shot on May 28, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 11:36 AM PT – Thursday, November 17, 2022

Police in Moscow, Idaho are pleading with the public to help them find a suspect in connection to the murders of four college students.   

On Sunday, four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed in a home near the college campus. Police have identified the victims as Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. All of the victims were close friends.    

During a press conference on Wednesday, authorities urged anyone who has information on a possible suspect or information about the whereabouts of the victims prior to the murders, to contact them immediately. 

Authorities believe that there was no forced entry at the crime scene. Officers have not yet recovered the weapon used in the murders.  

Police Chief James Fry of the Moscow Police Department made a statement about the facts of the case.

Authorities are interviewing other people who were inside of the home during the killings. The department is advising the public to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious activity.