(Washington, D.C.) — As Louisiana residents grapple with uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in partnership with Duane Morris LLP, Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, and Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, released a resource manual to provide guidance to those struggling during the pandemic. The newly-released COVID-19 Resource Manual for Louisiana provides critical information on accessing medical support during a pandemic, SNAP (food stamp) benefits, and election information.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming our nation but it is acutely devastating for African American & Latinx Louisianans,” said Maryum Jordan, counsel at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Working with our partners in Louisiana we’ve compiled critical information on unemployment benefits, housing, access to education, and election information to help residents in this time of need.”
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus (LLBC) was founded in 1977 with the mission of raising the quality of life for African Americans, the indigent and working people through legislation, education, and economic development. Our organization is pleased to collaborate with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington, DC on this manual in an effort to provide information to the citizens of Louisiana as we navigate the difficulties of COVID-19,” stated Louisiana State Senator James “Jimmy” Harris, III, the LLBC Chairman.
The COVID-19 pandemic is especially stark in Louisiana, where in April, 7 out of 10 patients killed by the coronavirus were Black. The stark racial disparities only have grown grimmer as the virus reportedly claimed three times as many residents of Louisiana as were slain by Hurricane Katrina.
In creating the COVID-19 Resource Manual for Louisiana, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and partners drew from their past work in response to hurricanes including Hurricane Katrina when it launched the Disaster Survivors Legal Assistance Initiative.
COVID-19 Resource Manual for Louisiana here.
###
About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visitwww.lawyerscommittee.org
