As the Presidential inauguration quickly approaches, the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) calls on all in this country to remain peaceful.
The stability of our government, the peaceful and timely transition of power, and the safety of our elected representatives are essential to public health. Any attempt to violently destabilize the federal government, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, poses a serious threat to those who live in our country through the disruption of essential services and an effective public health response to the pandemic, including infection testing and tracking, and vaccine distribution.
The events of January 6 were particularly grievous during a time already fraught with trauma and uncertainty resulting from the numerous crises afflicting our country: the pandemic with its daily reminders of loss and illness; the economic crisis with job losses disproportionately affecting women and communities of color; the collective pain felt in response to the killing of George Floyd and so many other Black men and women in communities already deeply scarred by systemic racism.
AMWA recognizes the critical interplay between human health and human rights, including our constitutional right to vote and participate peacefully in our local and federal governments and society. We condemn all forms of violence and call on all physicians, public health officials and experts, and others in healthcare to denounce the insurrection perpetrated on our Capitol on January 6, 2021, and to protect the health and wellbeing of our patients, our communities, and all who live in the United States of America.
During the inauguration and going forward, we call on all who live in this country, regardless of political position, to stand united against violence and hatred and to come together in building a sense of shared purpose where all have access to quality healthcare and education, safe housing, nourishing food, transportation, and economic stability.
