Page 15 - AHATA SEPT 16 2020_Neat

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 16 september 2020
Virus death toll linked to Maine wedding grows to 7

By PATRICK WHITTLE has a legal right to meet.
Associated Press The authority of a local
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Christian church, a Jew-
At least seven people have ish synagogue, or a Muslim
died in connection to a mosque to gather for their
coronavirus outbreak that respective religious services
continues to sicken people is a time-honored part of
in Maine following a wed- our nation's history since its
ding reception held over inception," the statement
the summer that violated said. "These religious activi-
state virus guidelines, pub- ties are also fully protected
lic health authorities said. under the First Amendment
The August wedding recep- to our United States Consti-
tion at the Big Moose Inn in tution."
Millinocket is linked to more Bell has been critical of
than 175 confirmed cases government attempts to
of the virus, the Maine Cen- control coronavirus, and
ter for Disease Control and videos show he has held
Prevention said Tuesday. services without the use of
Maine authorities have social distancing. He hired
identified overlaps be- a lawyer known nationally
tween the wedding recep- This Aug. 18, 2020, file photo shows the Big Moose Inn on Millinocket Lake in Millinocket, Maine. for defending the religious
tion and outbreaks else- Associated Press rights of churches. Neither
where in the state. An em- Bell nor an attorney work-
ployee of the York County es of the virus in total since said Nirav Shah, director of is currently investigating to ing with the church, David
Jail attended the wedding, March. Maine CDC. determine if an outbreak Gibbs of Florida, person-
Maine CDC officials have But the growing number of "Maine CDC is concerned at the church is connected ally responded to a request
said. Maine health offi- cases related to the wed- about where we are, and to the wedding outbreak. Tuesday for comment.
cials have also said a staff ding, which exceeded the I'm asking everyone else to That outbreak has sickened Maine CDC was unaware
member from a Madison state's guidelines of 50 peo- share in that concern. CO- 10 people, Shah said. of the church's statement
rehabilitation center, which ple or less at indoor gather- VID-19, right now, is not on Calvary Baptist Church is- and couldn't comment on
is the site of six of the sev- ings, could undo some of the other side of the fence. sued a statement on Tues- it, Shah said.
en deaths, attended the that progress if it continues It is in our yards," Shah said. day that said "a number Shah said the state's per-
event. to swell. Authorities have "The gains that Maine has of Calvary Baptist Church cent positivity rate has
The virus cases stemming said more than 65 people made against COVID-19 members attended" the ticked up to 0.63% for the
from the wedding have attended the wedding. are ones that could, and wedding reception. The previous seven days. At
spanned hundreds of miles The six people from the unfortunately can, be statement said the church one point, the rate was
in a state that had largely Madison rehabilitation fa- washed away." is taking precautions to limit less than half a percent-
controlled the spread of cility who died were all The wedding was also offi- the spread of the virus, and age point. The rate remains
the coronavirus through residents of that facility and ciated by pastor Todd Bell it will defend its right to con- well below the national av-
the summer. Maine has re- none of them attended of Calvary Baptist Church tinue holding services. erage of about 5%, Shah
ported less than 5,000 cas- the wedding reception, in Sanford. The Maine CDC "The Calvary Baptist Church said.q

States face pressure to ban race-based hairstyle prejudice

hairstyles in schools and the in New Mexico will have in January. New Mexico's
workplace. far-reaching implications Legislature is dominated by
Advocates this week pre- to protect our diverse com- Democrats and the state
sented a draft proposal munity from egregious acts has a Democratic gover-
to New Mexico state law- of hatred," Watson said. nor.
makers that would outlaw "Hair discrimination is racial Earlier this year, Democrat-
employers and schools discrimination." ic Washington Gov. Jay In-
from discriminating against New Mexico Black Lawyers slee signed a bill that made
Black and Native American Association President Aja Washington the latest state
women's hairstyles. It's the Brooks said job offers have to pass a version of the
latest state targeted by a been rescinded to Black CROWN Act.
national campaign. women in other states be- It stands for "Create a Re-
Devont'e Kurt Watson, a cause of hairstyles and that spectful and Open World
member of Black Lives Mat- students in New Mexico for Natural Hair" and is part
ter in Albuquerque, told and in other states have of a national campaign
New Mexico lawmakers been told in class by teach- promoted by Dove, the Na-
on Monday that the state ers their hair was a distrac- tional Urban League, Color
In this Jan. 28, 2020, file photo, Michele Watley, founder of Shir- should amend its Human tion. Of Change and West
ley's Kitchen Cabinet, testifies in favor of a bill before the Kansas Rights law to protect peo- "Hair discrimination for peo- ern Center on Law and
Legislature to ban discrimination based on hairstyles in employ-
ment, housing and public accommodations during a commit- ple with Afros, cornrows, ple of color in New Mexico Poverty.
tee hearing at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kansas. dreadlocks and head- is real," Brooks said. California, Colorado, Mary-
Associated Press wraps. The state should also The draft evaluated by a land, New York, New Jer-
provide protections for Na- New Mexico legislative in- sey, and Virginia have al-
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS are facing pressure to ban tive Americans who face terim committee was the ready passed similar laws,
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — race-based discrimination hair discrimination, he said. first step for a bill that is ex- according to people in-
A growing number of states against hair texture and "Passing the (the proposal) pected to be introduced volved in the campaign.q