On coronavirus, Fort Worth’s best leaders are black. Here’s why
We have found our leaders.
In a pandemic that will be remembered not only for death and economic depression but also for the mushy double-talk of government officials, our African-American leaders have spoken loudest and strongest.
From the beginning of coronavirus fears, 15-year County Commissioner Roy C. Brooks of Fort Worth was out front.
He called for “stay home” orders March 22. We wound up days behind Dallas.
Since then, our case count has tracked behind Dallas’. And we haven’t peaked yet.
And there was no mistaking U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey’s clear Facebook video message to followers when he saw a large gathering April 8 on Miller Avenue.
“Back/back people!!!” he posted, with a fatherly warning.
Did your member of Congress, state, county or city officials warn anybody bluntly to stay 6 feet away from other people, or to cut out the big parties, or to stop taking the whole family to the grocery store?
No.
When election time comes, remember who led and who didn’t.
(And remember who used social media to help us and who didn’t.)
Fort Worth Councilwoman Kelly Allen Gray has used Facebook as both a comforter and as a club..
She tips residents on where to find food, help and hope while adding her own commentary: “Until we see [President Donald] Trump, [Gov. Greg] Abbott and other ranking elected officials getting on planes, on the golf course, and hosting events we need to #StayHome. Their words DON’T match their actions.”
No matter your political bent, that’s a valid point.
If elected leaders aren’t going to movies or restaurants, and if they’re still meeting on Zoom, then you shouldn’t be out, either.
Gray and fellow Councilwoman Gyna M. Bivens both voted against Fort Worth’s resolution that accepted Abbott’s “Open Texas” orders without added city directions.
(For example, the only state order now says to stay 6 feet away from anyone else and “minimize” social gatherings. It doesn’t even say, “Don’t have big parties right now.”)
About 20 Fort Worth pastors from predominantly African-American churches also spoke loudly.
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church Pastor William T. Glynn led the group calling for an extension of “stay home” orders and online-only church services.
“We have a moral responsibility to keep our people safe and healthy,” Glynn said, as pastors in masks spread 6 feet apart across the parking lot at his church.
The Rev. Kyev Tatum said pastors know some worshippers have had the COVID-19 virus and others may be asymptomatic.
“We know some of those same people will want to hug the pastor as soon as they come in the door,” he said. “It’s just not safe.”
Brooks, a 70-year-old cancer survivor at risk for coronavirus, hasn’t been downtown for commissioners court meetings. He joins safely by video from his Fort Worth home.
But this event was outdoors.
Brooks walked out separately from other pastors, wearing a tight mask. He kept a safe distance from the others.
“This is not the time to relax our stay-at-home policy,” he said.
(Federal guidelines say to relax stay-home orders after two weeks of declining caseloads. But hospitals reported 230 patients Saturday, the most yet.)
“Now is not the time to reopen our churches,” Brooks said. “Now is not the time to reopen our businesses. Stay home.”
What are your community’s leaders saying?
And what are they really doing?
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 2:42 PM.
