Patch.com’s Eric Kiefer reports

NEWARK, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy needs to take a deeper look at racial data as the new coronavirus spreads throughout New Jersey. The results might reveal some serious gaps in the Garden State’s social safety net, according to a Newark-based social justice group.

Earlier this week, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ) and its partners with the United Black Agenda sent a letter to Murphy, claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing earthquakes in communities of color across the state.

According to the coalition, “structural racism” that existed long before the viral outbreak is likely to cause a disproportionate amount of sickness and death in black and Latina/Latino communities.

The NJISJ offered some examples to back up the coalition’s claim in their letter.