To: Both Houses of Congress
November 1 Day of Remembrance of Latinxs Killed by Covid-19
43,953 Latinxs are reported to have lost their lives to COVID-19 through Tuesday, Oct. 13. As the pandemic takes a spike in the month of October and November with the feared “second wave,” many more are expected to die in isolation and without the assistance of family or relatives, due to health disparities and their position as essential workers at the forefront of the pandemic.
However, President Donald Trump continues to divide the nation by declaring 1 November as a “National Day of Remembrance for Americans Killed by Illegal Aliens” nationwide.
Adding insult to injury, the President continues in his senseless crusade against the Latinx community.
We the petitioners are asking to dedicate November 1 to National Day of Remembrance of Latinxs Killed by Covid-19, a hard-working community that is at the forefront of the pandemic working in factories, hospitals, farms and the fields.
Our beloved family members who deserved better care and protection from an Administration that has systematically denied the virus pandemic, had to die in isolation, without the consolation of their relatives, friends and community.
Why is this important?
Latinos and black people together comprise 55% of coronavirus cases, nearly double their U.S. population makeup, according to CDC data released June 15, 2020.
The U.S. COVID-19-associated hospitalization rate is 193.7 per 100,000, according to CDC data updated on Oct. 23, 2020. That is compared to 120.9 on July 24. Hospitalization rates for Latinos are 4.5 times the rate among Whites.
Nationwide, Latinos are 3.2 times more likely to have died than Whites, when age is taken into account.