Del. Darryl Barnes: Override Hogan’s Tobacco Tax Veto to Save Lives in Maryland

With Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday just in the rearview mirror and most of the 2021 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session ahead, I cannot help but reflect on Dr. King’s legacy—specifically, how relevant his teachings are at this moment, to health and social justice in the Black community. It is no secret that, COVID-19 has taken a far heavier toll on communities of color, specifically the Black community, both here in Maryland and throughout the country. The virus highlighted ongoing health inequities, including poorer health outcomes, as we saw those with preexisting conditions contract the virus at substantially higher rates.