Black lawmakers push to declare racism a public health crisis

Black lawmakers push to declare racism a public health crisis

Ohio Gov.

Mike DeWine recognizes racism as a public health crisis in his state, he said this week.

Now, Black lawmakers just need to make it official by getting a resolution through the state Congress and onto his desk.

TAKING A SYMBOLIC STEP TOWARDRACIAL EQUALITY -- AFTERCALLING RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTHCRISIS THIS WEEK.IT'SSOMETHING AFRICAN-AMERICANLAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN PUSHINGFOR.

TONIGHT -- WCPO 9 NEWSREPORTER KRISTEN SWILLEYSHARES -- WHAT COMES NEXT INTHEIR FIGHT.KRISTEN: TWO PUBLIC OFFICIALSFROM HAMILTON COUNTY HAVE BEENSOME OF THE LOUDEST VOICES INTHIS FIGHT.

THEY FEEL DEWINE'SSTATEMENT PUTS THEM ONE STEPCLOSER TO ACHIEVING REALCHANGE.VO: IT WAS 2016 WHENALICIA REECE LED THELEGISLATIVE EFFORT TOCOMPLETELY OUTLAW SLAVERY INOHIO.

TO THIS DAY, THEPRACTICE IS STILL TECHNICALLYON THE BOOKS IN THE BUCKEYESTATE, WITH PUNISHMENT FOR ACRIME AS THE EXCEPTION.

SOT:ALICIA REECE 14:16:10"Itdidn't get a lot of publicity.It was shut down so quickly."VO: THIS YEAR, THE ISSUE IS UPFOR DEBATE AGAIN AND, ALONGWITH A RESOLUTION FORLAWMAKERS TO DECLARE RACISM APUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, ISGAINING MOMENTUM.SOT: ALICIAREECE 2:02:06"It affectseducation.

It affects yourbenefits.

It affects yourhealth, your life and yourinteraction with safety."SOT:SEN.

CECIL THOMAS 1:39:18"Thelegislature now has to movebeyond discussion."VO: THISTIME SENATOR CECIL THOMAS ISPUSHING FOR THE CHANGE IN THESTATE'S CONSTITUTION AND FORLEGISLATORS TO ECHO GOVERNORMIKE DEWINE'S STATEMENT.SOT:GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE (PHONER)28:13"I think racism is apublic health crisis.

I thinkthe most important thing forme is what I can do that'svery, very tangible."SOT: SEN.CECIL THOMAS 30:10"The messagecoming out of the governor'soffice is that we recognizethis as a crisis, a healthcrisis."VO: THOMAS SAYS STATEAND NATIONWIDE PROTESTS AREPUTTING PRESSURE ON ELECTEDOFFICIALS THAT COULD OPEN THEDOOR FOR THINGS LIKE SYSTEMICCRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

SOT:SEN.

CECIL THOMAS 8:22:06"Idon't think those were alljust one party, Democrat.These were people.

These werepeople who felt humanity is atstake here as it relates towhat happened."KRISTEN: SENATERESOLUTION 14 WHICH WOULDDECLARE RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTHCRISIS IS CURRENTLY INCOMMITTEE.

THERE WILL LIKELYBE ANOTHER HEAIRNG ON THERESOLUTION BEFO