Many factors are playing a role in the recent rash of shootings that resulted in the death of one woman and injuries to 19 people in Winston-Salem, several members of the Winston-Salem City Council said Tuesday.
In addition, a man died from injuries received May 5 after police returned gunfire at a home during a standoff in Ardmore.
âItâs a myriad of things,â Council Member Denise âD.D.â Adams said. âIt goes further back than COVID.â
Problems such as poverty, hunger, unemployment, drug abuse, poor education, crime, mental illness, and health-care disparities plagued neighborhoods before the pandemic, Adams said.
The pandemic magnified those problems, and has played a role in increasing numbers of shootings nationwide and in Winston-Salem, Adams said.
Watch now: Annette Scippio recalls life in Winston-Salemâs Black business district before urban renewal in the 1960s
The Winston-Salem City Council is poised to apologize for its role in slavery and post-slavery discrimination against Black people.
Along with the apology, the city is expected to back passage of a bill in the U.S. Congress that would study and make recommendations for reparations that would be paid to the descendants of slaves.
The council will consider the apology and reparations resolution on Monday during its regular meeting, which will be held online starting at 7 p.m.
The proposal advances to the council after the cityâs general government committee last week approved the resolution with three votes in favor, none opposed and with one abstention.
Winston-Salem may soon back reparations, apology to Blacks for discrimination journalnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from journalnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Winston-Salem City Council could pass a non-discrimination ordinance as soon as Monday, March 22 that covers transgender people as well as gays and lesbians, but for now the ordinance will not apply to private businesses.
The cityâs general government committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to send a package of ordinances and resolutions for a vote at Mondayâs 7 p.m. council meeting.
In addition to sexual orientation and gender expression, ordinances would grant protections based on âprotected hairstyles,â which are defined as any hairstyle âassociated with race,â including âbraids, locks, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots and afros.â