Resolution: Support for Mask Mandates in Schools
A Resolution promoting access to safe and in person education through implementation of mask mandates for schools when operating indoors.
WHEREAS as of September 8, 2021, there have been 649,299 reported deaths from Covid-19 in the United States and 21,704 deaths from Covid-19 reported in Michigan;
WHEREAS 251,781 new child Covid-19 cases were reported in the United States in the past week from 8/26/21-9/2/21 and children represented 26.8% of the weekly reported cases.
WHEREAS over the two weeks of 8/19/21 to 9/2/21, there was a 10% increase in the cumulated number of child Covid–19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
WHEREAS the CDC Transmission Risk Level for Covid-19 in Genesee County as of September 3, 2021 is high with a seven day average positivity rate of 10.9% and weekly cases of 175.4 cases per 100,000.
WHEREAS “Weekly Covid-19–associated hospitalization rates rose rapidly during late June to mid-August 2021 among U.S. children and adolescents aged 0–17 years; by mid-August, the rate among children aged 0–4 years was nearly 10 times the rate 7 weeks earlier. This increase coincides with widespread circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant.”
WHEREAS in Genesee County the percentage of recent cases in the 0-17 age group from 8/23/21 to 8/29/21 was 15.5%, an increase of 3% from the previous three weeks of 8/2/21 to 8/22/21.
WHEREAS on September 2, 2021 the Genesee County Health Department, pursuant to the Michigan Public Health Code, has issued a public health order requiring masks be worn by students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The order is effective on Tuesday September 7, 2021 and remains in effect until community transmission for Genesee County is categorized as “Moderate” by the CDC for at least fourteen consecutive days, or until further notice from the Genesee County Medical Health Officer.
WHEREAS, the effectiveness of face masks to prevent transmission of Covid-19 has been established by many scientific studies and the Genesee County Health Department provided an executive summary and review of several studies.
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and American Academy of Pediatrics also call for universal masking in schools to allow for in person learning while slowing the spread of Covid-19;
WHEREAS, the Genesee County Democratic Party (GCDP) supports safe, in person education for all students.
WHEREAS, the GCDP supports the issuance of a mask mandate to provide an in person school environment that is as safe as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the GCDP fully supports the Genesee County Health Department and its issuance of the September 2, 2021 mask mandate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the GCDP condemns any attempt to overturn or challenge the school mask mandate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the GCDP calls on the members of the Board of Health, the County Commissioners, and all school districts within the County to support and enforce the Genesee County school mask mandate.
Resolution: Opposition to and Denouncement of the “Thin Blue Line” Flag
A Resolution Denouncing the Thin Blue Line Flag as a Symbol of White Supremacy and Continued Oppression.
WHEREAS the “Thin Blue Line” symbol was originally popularized by William H. Parker, former Los Angeles Police Department chief in an attempt to signify the police as the “thin blue line” between society and “chaos”;
WHEREAS William H. Parker was known to promote and further racism, use derogatory racial slurs, and often speak out in opposition to the presence of people of color in Los Angeles,
WHEREAS the thin blue line and William H. Parker perpetuated and the thin blue line symbol continues to perpetuate an “us versus them” mentality between the police and citizens and an “us versus them” approach to policing;
WHEREAS the Thin Blue Line symbol was used to create the present day Thin Blue Line Flag which is a variation of the American Flag that replaces the red stripes and blue field for the stars with black stripes and replaces one white stripe with a blue stripe in the middle of the flag;
WHEREAS the organization Thin Blue Line USA began marketing the Thin Blue Line Flag in 2014, shortly after the Black Lives Matter movement began to increase its footprint and gain public attention;
WHEREAS the Thin Blue Line flag has become a major part of the pro-police “Blue Lives Matter” movement, which arose in direct response to and as a counter movement to the Black Lives Matter movement;
WHEREAS the Thin Blue Line flag has been co-opted by known white supremacist groups and it is now used as a symbol known to support and further white supremacy. It has been flown by white supremacists and it has appeared next to Confederate flags at events like the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia;
WHEREAS the Thin Blue Line flag was on prominent display by many of the insurrectionists involved with the Capitol siege, attack, and attempted coup on January 6, 2021;
WHEREAS 4 U.S. Code § 8 (the federal law codifying the United States Flag Code) specifically states: “The flag should never have placed upon it, nor any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.”;
WHEREAS the Thin Blue Line flag is an alteration of the flag in direct violation of the United States Flag Code;
WHEREAS the Thin Blue Line flag does not stand for or represent the values of the Democratic Party or our nation;
WHEREAS there are other ways to demonstrate support for first responders and law enforcement for those who wish to express their support other than to fly the Thin Blue Line flag;
WHEREAS flying of the Thin Blue Line flag on Government buildings would harm members of our community, especially Black Community members and other People of Color.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Genesee County Democratic Party (GCDP) believes that the Thin Blue Line Flag promotes white supremacy and harms members of the community and our nation;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the GCDP denounces and condemns the use and flying of the “Thin Blue Line” flag and any other symbol that is used to promote white supremacy;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the GCDP calls on the state, federal, and local governmental units to refrain from flying the “Thin Blue Line” flag on or at any government buildings or properties.
Resolution Adopting Universal Single-Payer Healthcare as a Plank in the Party Platform
WHEREAS the Michigan Democratic Party’s (MDP) Platform, consistent with the Democratic National Party’s 2016 Platform, states that, Democrats believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and our health care system should put people before profits;
WHEREAS Universal Single-Payer Healthcare refers to a system where the U.S. or State Governments pay for healthcare expenses for all Americans;
WHEREAS presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Biden has stated that “…healthcare should be a right in America,” and yet the 2020 Democratic platform was finalized through committee without inclusion of Medicare For All;
WHEREAS Article 25 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, which was drafted by the commission’s Chair, then First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, was ratified in 1948, and to which the United States is a signatory, states that healthcare is a human right of all people. Yet to date, the US Congress has ignored this basic human right;
WHEREAS the United States of America is; in the throes of a global pandemic, on the fringe of the worst economic downturn since the great depression of the twentieth century, facing unprecedented job losses, with more than 30 million Americans uninsured, and more than 137 million Americans facing financial hardship because of medical costs; and
WHEREAS 69% of all registered voters and 84% of Democrats support implementation of Medicare For All; now, therefore, be it
resolved, that the Michigan Democratic Party
- adopts Universal Single-Payer Healthcare as a plank in to the state platform, and to urge the Democratic National Committee to adopt the same at the national level;
- strongly urges all Democrats running for office in Michigan, all incumbents, and the presidential nominee to adopt and promote Medicare For All as policy, and to consider the direct conflict of interest in accepting campaign contributions from any entity engaged in, or lobbying for, the medical, pharmaceutical, or healthcare insurance industries, and whether it serves the interests of their constituents;
- instructs the Michigan Delegation to the United States Congress, to support legislation via co-sponsorship of bills for Universal Single Payer Healthcare, as currently introduced to the U.S. Congress; H.R.1384, and S.1129, as demanded by constituents;
- officially address the critical shortage of healthcare for many Michigan residents, and to publicly support the implementation of Medicare For All; and
- recognize that a majority of constituents are calling for, and as such demand support for, and implementation of, Medicare For All at all levels of government.