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Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis: A Timeline

2016: During her APHA presidency, Dr. Camara Jones, MD, PhD, MPH, launches a national campaign against racism.

2018: Inspired by the work of Dr. Jones, the Wisconsin Public Health Association passes the first in the nation declaring racism a public health crisis.

2019: Milwaukee County becomes the first local government in the nation to pass a racism declaration.

2020: Following the police killing of George Floyd and the subsequent uprising over racially motivated violence, the number of declarations grows from 13 nationwide to nearly 200.

2022: The number of declarations tracked by APHA reaches 250.