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Lawmakers View Racism In A Different Way

Image from CT-N.
State Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams in debate on the floor of the Connecticut State Senate May 18, 2021

The General Assembly's Public Health Committee has handled some of the most emotional and hotly contested issues of the session. 

Lawmakers held a 24-hour public hearing filled by parents opposed to vaccines.  Some of those same parents rallied outside the state capitol as lawmakers voted to end religious exemptions to school vaccine requirements .

Some legislators on the panel choked up as they described their personal experiences with the loss of loved ones during debate on a failed bill that would have allowed terminally ill patients to request life-ending medication. 

The day before the show, the committee's leader presented a bill to the state Senate that promotes a different way of looking at racism -- As a public health crisis.  

This hour, we speak to that committee leader.

Guests:

Mary Daugherty Abrams -- State Senator Co-chair of the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee. She is a Democrat who represents Cheshire, Meriden, Middletown, Middlefield, and Rockfall.

Christine Stuart -- Owner and editor in chief of Connecticut News Junkie and a reporter for NBC Connecticut. 

Matt Dwyer is an editor, reporter and midday host for Connecticut Public's news department. He produces local news during All Things Considered.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Fund the Facts

You just read trusted, local journalism that’s free for everyone, thanks to donors like you.

If that matters to you, now is the time to give. Join the 50,000+ members powering honest reporting and a more connected — and civil! — Connecticut.