Latino communities and all communities of color in the U.S. are being affected disproportionately by the spread of coronavirus. How the government responds will impact the Latino community for years to come and set a precedent for how the U.S Government responds during times of crisis and how it deals with the exigent needs of underserved communities of color. LULAC is calling for a comprehensive 15 steps Pandemic Response Plan.
In a somber turn of events It’s been evidently clear that in some communities Latinos and African Americans are dying at a higher alarming rate of COVID-19 when compared to other groups. The current COVID-19 emergency underlines the critical work LULAC and other organizations perform on behalf of the Latino and Hispanic Community in the United States.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is extending welcome help for owners of small businesses. This assistance is critical to our community because today there are 4.65 million Latino-owned companies representing 14% of the 33 million total U.S. businesses.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 197 which provides emergency relief to Ohioans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor also announced that Ohio is launching a website to encourage Ohioans to continue to support local retailers and restaurants by shopping online, choosing local, ordering carryout from restaurants, and taking virtual tours of well-known attractions around the state.
The legislation being negotiated in the Senate is a step in the right direction to alleviate the economic hardships for millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are concerned about the farmworkers, undocumented workers, and legal residents who need to get help also.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) announced in recent days the launch of the LULAC@Home website to provide critical information and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.