Vargas, who lives in South Omaha, lost his father to the coronavirus in New York, and others in his family have tested positive and recovered. The trials, this one through Meridian Clinical Research, are struggling to recruit people of color to participate, he said.
In Nebraska, which has some of the worst racial disparities when it comes to Covid-19 cases in the country, the state's sole Latino lawmaker tried to strengthen protections for meatpacking workers, all while confronting his own personal tragedy. It was a battle against time that revealed much about race, politics and workers' rights in the pandemic.
"My father has always been a source of quiet strength for our family. He has always been a fighter and, for the last month, fought for his life, to overcome this disease. Words cannot describe what this loss means for me, my mother and brothers, and all of our family and friends here in the U.S. and in Peru," said Vargas.
In an effort to protect Nebraska workers who labor shoulder-to-shoulder on meatpacking production lines from the coronavirus, Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha has reached out to his colleagues in the Legislature to engage their support.
Sixteen Douglas County officials, including Senator Tony Vargas, on Friday submitted a letter to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, and Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour urging them to issue "stay-at-home" orders through the end of April. "The current orders to self-quarantine, if possible, and practice of social distancing are not sufficient," the letter states.
State Sen. Tony Vargas, who represents downtown and parts of South Omaha, explained what the Legislature was doing to provide support to Nebraskans during the pandemic. Everyone should take the contagious coronavirus seriously.
Latinos have always been proud, educated and deserving people and now many are showing up and showing out, winning coveted positions.