Items

• 
  2020-07-11

  The Governor Killed My Father

  When Kristin Urquiza's father Mark Urquiza died in July as a result of Covid-19, she wrote a scathing obituary, that was published in the Arizona Republic. She wrote: “His death is due to the carelessness of the politicians who continue to jeopardize the health of brown bodies through a clear lack of leadership, refusal to acknowledge the severity of this crisis, and inability and unwillingness to give clear and decisive direction on how to minimize risk." As its contributors, we added this to highlight the very real costs of the pandemic in the working-class and non-white communities that have been hardest hit by the virus. In this instance, Kristin Urquiza wrote an obituary that called out Arizona Governor Doug Ducey for his inconsistent and inadequate response to the crisis. This message highlights the degree to which the virus is not just a biological phenomenon but also a political one.