The measure, written by Commissioner Tami Sawyer, spells out that the purpose of declaring race a pandemic is to “unequivocally defend minorities and enact polices that eradicate the effects of systemic racism affecting Black people, and other minorities, throughout Shelby County.”

The resolution’s approval comes on the heels of national civil unrest after the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer May 25.

The global outrage over Floyd’s death and the deaths of other unarmed Black men and women by police officers has put a laser focus on systemic racial issues affecting African Americans.

“Public health organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, American Pediatric Association, American Physician’s Association — three major medical organization have said that racism is a public health crisis and a pandemic in the United States,” Sawyer said in defense of the resolution.

While most commissioners were in agreement with the resolution, Commissioner Amber Mills, who pointed out that she’d discussed the notion with people of all races within her district, said she fears it will drive businesses away from the county.