ANCHORWOMAN: I am reporting live from City Hall. Behind me, Lorraine Simmons, a community activist and founder of The People’s Corner, a nonprofit organization based in Brooklyn. She along with other community leaders has organized a rally here and is speaking in protest of the city’s handling of the “Reenu-You” virus. And, yes, I have been encouraged to wear a surgical mask while reporting.
LORRAINE: We have been more than patient in waiting for the mayor’s office, the governor’s office and public health officials to effectively respond to this crisis. We take issue with the quarantining of mostly African American and Latino communities when everyone is at risk.
[CROWD boos]
Why are we being targeted? We have not seen a quarantine issued in this city since the influenza virus. If you’re going to quarantine someone, QUARANTINE everyone! This is OUR HEALTH and we will not let someone hurt us further!
[CROWD Cheers]
We are not stupid. There are currently over 8,0000 people believed to be infected with the Reenu-You virus. It is more women than men and more minorities than whites. Many sick folks are from poor communities. We need on the ground resources. How will we eat, if we are quarantined? How will we work? There are many of us that can’t escape to homes in Long Island, Westchester or upstate New York.
Why is the situation here deteriorating so quickly? What aren’t they telling us? This should not be happening in the United States of America. Panic is breaking out everywhere, like the virus itself. We, however, need to stay calm, organized and focused.
We demand immediate meetings with the coordinating officials including the CDC and the Mayor’s Special Emergency committee. We also call on the Chicago attorney general to open an investigation into the KrystàlaVox Company and IvakHealth, their parent company. And, no, we do not believe that their former employee Lynx Dupree was singlehandedly responsible for the spread of the virus. We want the TRUTH!
[CROWD cheers]