Kim Janey compares vaccine passports to having to show documentation during Jim Crow, and birtherism.Boston Mayor Kim Janey (D) compared the idea of requiring vaccine verification to the practice of having to show one's papers during slavery and the Jim Crow era, as well as the more recent birtherism conspiracy theory.
"There's a long history in this country of people needing to show their papers," Janey said during an interview with NewsCenter 5. "During slavery, post-slavery, as recent as you know what immigrant population has to go through here. We heard Trump with the birth certificate nonsense. Here we want to make sure that we are not doing anything that would further create a barrier for residents of Boston or disproportionally impact [Black, Indigenous or people of color] communities."
Janey was asked the question in light of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's (D) Tuesday announcement that he would require New Yorkers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms and other indoor facilities.
"We want to make sure that we are giving every opportunity for folks to get vaccinated. When it comes to what businesses may choose to do, we know that those types of things are difficult to enforce when it comes to the vaccine," Janey said.
Janey, who is running for a full term as Mayor, sparked backlash from her opponents in the race to be held this autumn.
https://twitter.com/andreaforboston/status/1422642209938186245"Anyone in a position of leadership should be using that position to build trust in vaccines," City Councilor Michelle Wu said in a statement, according to NewsCenter 5.
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