Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s COVID claim denounced as racist

By ACACIA CORONADO
Report for America/Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ lieutenant governor is blaming unvaccinated Black people for rising COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates. His comments were quickly denounced as racist. Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick made the comments Thursday night on a Fox News segment. Patrick said the biggest group in most states that are not vaccinated is African Americans. Patrick did not change course Friday, insisting he had used state data in his assertions. But statistics from the Texas Department of State Health Services don’t back that. Black people make up about 12% of Texas residents and account for about 15% of total COVID-19 cases.