Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda Calls for Governor Kemp to Put Human Life Above the Economy

ATLANTA - April 24, 2020 - PRLog -- The Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda issued the following statement on behalf of over 150 statewide member organizations:

"Despite the fact that Gov. Brian Kemp ordered some nonessential businesses to reopen today, we urge citizens in Atlanta, as well as across the state of Georgia, to follow the "stay-at-home" advice recently issued by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms and followed by other local officials.  The Mayor's advice is based on the evidence and data provided by scientific and medical professionals, not politicians catering to special interests. We also encourage Georgia residents to call the Governor (404-656-1776) and urge him to delay the re-opening until it is safe for us to return to work and school.

"Governor Kemp's executive order to reopen Georgia's economy demonstrates a callous disregard for public health and human life. The governor appears to place the economy above the lives and health of the people of Georgia. But, common sense instructs that if people are sick and dying from Coronavirus, there is no economy.

"This order shows a wanton disregard towards the deaths and suffering already experienced by hundreds of families across Georgia. This decision will be especially lethal to people of color and poor people without health insurance or those working in industries where distancing is impractical. Governor Kemp is effectively signing the death certificates of thousands of people in the state of Georgia. There is no justification for the Governor making a decision that defies logic and science. We are not sure what's on the Governor's mind, but it certainly isn't Georgia.

"Governor Kemp's order doesn't even comply with the guidelines announced by the White House task force that calls for continuous decreases in the number of cases after states have reached their peaks and Georgia's testing rates are among the lowest in the country.

"We are all concerned about reopening the economy and getting back to work as soon possible, however, we also have an urgent responsibility to be concerned about public health and the safety of workers and business owners and customers alike, and we should never place profits above people. The economy cannot be switched on like a light bulb and the businesses that he is proposing to open may have little to no impact on Georgia economy.

"We believe that consideration should also be given to the reservations to the Governor's order made by the Mayors of Savannah, Albany, and Roswell, among others.

"We call upon all Georgians, our business leaders, our faith-based leaders, community leaders, and political leaders, to demonstrate common sense and fact-based judgment in the difficult days and weeks and months ahead as it relates to COVID19."


ABOUT GCPA

Founded by the late civil rights leader Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, and led by board chair,  Rev. J. A. Milner and executive director, Helen Butler, GCPA was formed to help create an informed and active electorate and to ensure responsive and accountable elected officials. They engage members of their coalition to register, educate and mobilize voters. With headquarters in Atlanta and offices in Athens, Albany, Macon, Augusta,  LaGrange and Savannah, the organization is active throughout the state of Georgia and works to support state coalitions in Southeast states. For more information or to volunteer in your city visit www.thepeoplesagenda.org or call (404) 653-1199.