MI Gov. Whitmer orders state employees to undergo "implicit bias training," declares racism "public health crisis"

Proclaiming that she wants a "more equitable and just Michigan," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order Wednesday that officially declares racism a public health crisis and orders state employees to undergo "implicit bias training."

The order includes a requirement that the state create an advisory council to promote black leadership and prompts the state's Department of Health and Human Services to conduct implicit bias training for all state employees.

Michigan now joins Colorado and Wisconsin as the only states to declare racism an actual health crisis. Their moves follow the American Public Health Association making the same declaration for the entire country following the killing of George Floyd.

Whitmer, who says she wants to "make health equity a major goal," did not answer questions about how alleged racism met the criteria for a public health crisis designation.