CJ 0852 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Gunnison, Colorado, 1918 Flu Pandemic, Mass Incarceration
2 Oct 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
1918, the town of gunnison, co implemented extreme rules to protect its citizens from the spanish flu: Absolutely no meetings (indoors or out) allowed. Local health officials blockade the entire county against all the world . Barricaded the major rail line into gunnison. Prohibited people from entering the community without submitting to a 2 day quarantine. In an epidemic that killed some 40 million worldwide and more than 500,00 in the us alone, this colorado county reported only 2 cases and no deaths. In some instances closed business and transportation lines. Contemporary response to covid not unprecedented, however, restrictions have never been as widespread. Such restrictions have often been applied in a discriminatory manner. In times of public health emergencies, the protection of the public was the priority, however, homophobic responses to the aids epidemic led to strong consideration of individual rights. Our approach to covid reflects historic themes of blame and social division.
