IJʿ Denounce Governor Reeves Remarks as Dismissive of Mississippi's High COVID-19 Death Rate, Impact on Gulf Coast Students
JACKSON, Miss.—The IJʿ (IJʿ) refutes Governor Tate Reeves’attempts at downplaying the impact of COVID-19 in Mississippi, as the state recently ranked the highest per capita in the nationofCOVID-related deaths.
Schooldistrictsin the state are seeing upticksin student infections and quarantines, particularly intheJackson and Harrison County school districts. The Jackson County School District reporteda 25% increaseduring its second four-week stretch of the2021-22school year,compared to the first four weeksof school.And in the Harrison County School District, student infections are nowhere close to keeping up with general statewide declines over the past month.
The following statement is from Will Bardwell, senior staff attorney for the IJʿ:
“Mississippihavingthehighest rate ofdeathsper capitafrom COVID-19out of all 50 statesis a sad and unnecessary statistic that theGovernor has the power to change by simplyrequiring compliance withCDC guidancefor the people in this state,and especially in ourpublicschools.
“More than9,000 Mississippians have died from COVID,and an unacceptably high numberof themhave beenchildren.Governor Reeves and district officials in the Jackson and Harrison County school districts have created a dangerous environment for all schoolchildren – including children with disabilities thatmake them more vulnerable in this pandemic, such as children who are immunocompromised.
"Unfortunately, those students mustunfairlybemoreconcerned withcatching a deadly virus thanfocusing on their schoolwork and living out their childhoods.
“The IJʿ is committed to protecting these children. Weintendto continuestanding withparents of childrenwho are medically vulnerable and must faceschool districts that ignore CDC guidance.”
If you are the parent or guardian of an immunocompromised child who is a student in the Harrison County or Jackson County school districts, contact attorney Will Bardwell at will.bardwell@splcenter.org.