But one thing is clear: the economic downturn caused by the pandemic is hitting minorities hard.
The Rev. Kenny Irby is pastor of the Historic Bethel AME Church and is St. Petersburg’s Community Intervention Director, focusing on the city’s young African American residents. The violence, he says, may be provoked by systemic racism experienced by the Black community.
“It creates levels of stress that clinical psychologists and sociologists would definitely tell you, yes, there is exponential stress in our homes, and people are much more on edge,” Irby said. “Now, going back to the actual cases of the murders that have happened recently, I’m not so sure you can make that connection, though.