Social Injustice vs Social Distancing: Large groups protest in the height of a Pandemic.

After states across the country reopened earlier in May, COVID-19 cases steadily increased. Georgia was one of the first states to reopen allowing restaurants and barber shops to open, with the condition that they practice CDC guidelines for safety. Despite the growing number of positive COVID-19 cases, patrons welcomed the chance to get back to their regular social activities. To date, there are more than 47,000 positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases in the state of Georgia.

This news comes at a turbulent time for the United States as another crisis is sweeping the country. Various cities have reported violent protests in the wake of another murder of an unarmed black man. The social unrest has been met with large crowds of protestors making social distancing almost non-existent under the dire circumstances.

Only a few months after the murder of an unarmed young black man, Ahmad Arbery, who was shot and killed by two white men in Brunswick, GA while jogging through a neighborhood, another murder has grabbed headlines. Protesters gathered in crowds in downtown Savannah, Georgia to protest the murder of George Floyd. Floyd was murdered by a police officer, sparking outrage throughout the U.S.

These protests that draw in hundreds and sometimes thousands of people makes social distancing difficult. Although restrictions have been lifted in cities like Savannah, social distancing is still advised as a precautionary practice against the spread of the COVID-19. While protests are still being organized, the outcome is uncertain. There have been no new guidelines as of yet on how people can maintain a safe distance while protesting.

The call for an end to social injustice is a big call, but this does not lessen the severity that we are currently experiencing a worldwide pandemic. Finding a balance between fighting against social injustice and adhering to social distancing guidelines is a new problem with no solution in sight.