SOUTHERLY: These coal communities are protecting sick miners from COVID-19 and pushing Congress for more support

ACLC’s Black Lung Organizer, Courtney Rhoades, was interviewed in this article that discusses the need to protect sick miners in coal communities and demand better policies for the future.

“Courtney Rhoades is the black lung organizer for the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center in Whitesburg, Kentucky, which represents miners and their families on issues of black lung and mine safety. She has been helping organize phone trees among clients and other folks in the community to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Though in-person meetings ended in early March, Rhoades regularly calls people to ensure they’re getting groceries and prescriptions.

‘We’re looking at ways to prevent [the spread] and stay safe,’ Rhoades said. ‘There is a lack of hospitals in our communities within Eastern Kentucky. If there is a major outbreak, particularly among those who have compromised lungs already, then we would worry about an overload of individuals onto these hospital systems.'”

Read the full article here.