Rocking Horse takes knee to show commitment to minority health care

The staff and supporters of the Rocking Horse Center took a knee in the center’s parking lot Friday at 8:46 a.m. to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

The staff and supporters of the Rocking Horse Center took a knee in the center’s parking lot Friday at 8:46 a.m. to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Rocking Horse providers, board members, staff and other individuals who support the health center took a knee on Friday morning to show their commitment to reducing inequities in society minorities face.

“We serve many populations,” Nettie Carter-Smith, Director of Community Relations at Rocking Horse Community Health Center said. “We see the injustice. We see the inequities for minorities, African Americans — not just with what’s going on in the world, but also with health care.”

She said that as a heath care team they wanted to show the community that they are working to reduce injustices.

RELATED: Rocking Horse looking to expand telehealth services

“We discussed in leadership that we wanted to show our support and take a commitment to ensure that we are doing our part to reduce inequities and making sure that minorities get good, quality health care.”

Carter-Smith said that they took a knee at 8:46 a.m. at their location on South Limestone Street in Springfield to symbolize the”unfortunate and untimely death of George Floyd.”

RELATED: Springfield reacts to the death of George Floyd

Floyd was an unarmed black man who was killed while in Minneapolis police custody. Officers were caught on video holding him down and one officer was shown kneeling on his neck for about eight minutes.

His death has caused international outrage and has been followed by a series of demonstrations throughout the world.

The show of support at Rocking Horse is similar to actions by other health care workers in the region and around the country.

The Rocking Horse Community Health Center is a Primary Care Medical Home. The health center recently added telehealth services due to the coronavirus pandemic, but is looking at ways to expand on the concept.

About the Author