[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> NINE TONIGHT ON A RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> THE REAL CHALLENGE HERE IS PEOPLE LIVE CLOSE TOGETHER AND HAVE TO GO OUT TO WORK EVERYDAY.

>> THE SMALLEST CITY IN RHODE ISLAND CONTINUES TO TACKLE THE HIGHEST CORONAVIRUS RATE IN THE STATES.

>> I WAS REALLY SCARED BECAUSE ALL THAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE NEWS AND HOW PEOPLE HAVE DIED, LIKE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS AND THAT IS ALL I WAS THINKING.

>> THIS IS A DRUG THAT HAS BEEN SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY USED TO PREVENT MALARIA AND TREAT LUPUS IN DETROIT ARTHRITIS FOR DECADES.

>> DOZENS OF STUDIES HAVE EXAMINED THE EFFICACY.

HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

EVERY SINGLE HIGH-QUALITY STUDY HAS FAILED TO FIND ANY BENEFIT OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE FOR COVID-19.

>> THE SENATOR WHO HELD THE HEARING WAS REALLY TRYING TO USE IT AS A WAY TO SPREAD DISINFORMATION ABOUT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

IT WAS AN EVENT SET UP WITH BLOGGERS, A LOT OF RIGHT WING SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS WHO THEN WENT AFTER ME IN PERSON AND BEGAN TO ATTACK ME.

THREATEN ME.

AND I DID NOT -- >> DID YOU GET DEATH THREATS?

>> THERE WERE DEATH THREATS.

PEOPLE SAYING HE NEEDS TO BE ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, ELLEN REPORTED WITHIN 6700 NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

TONIGHT, WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE OCEAN STATE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

FIRST STOP, NEARLY TWO YEARS INTO THE CRISIS, CENTRAL FALLS IS ONCE AGAIN A COVID-19 HOTSPOT.

THE STATE RECENTLY OPENED A COVID-19 TESTING SITE IN THE CITY WHERE MORE THAN 1900 PEOPLE CAN GET TESTED EVERY DAY WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT.

SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN THE STATE'S SMALLEST CITY HAS BEEN A TALL ORDER.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN DECEMBER OF 2020, CRAMPED LIVING CONDITIONS GET DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO ISOLATE WHEN THEY ARE SICK.

♪ ITS COMPACT SIZE IS PART OF ITS CHARM, BUT IT HAS ALSO MADE AN IDEAL READING GROUND FOR COVID-19.

>> THE FAMILIES ARE BEAUTIFULLY INTEGRATED HERE AND IT IS ITS GREATEST STRENGTH.

BUT WHEN A PANDEMIC HITS, IT IS GOING TO SPREAD AND YOUR FAMILY FASTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.

>> AT LESS THAN 1.3 SQUARE MILES, CENTRAL FALLS IS A COVID-19 HOTSPOT WHERE GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES LIVE TOGETHER IN TIGHT QUARTERS.

ACROSS FROM CITY HALL, A LINE STRETCHES ALONG THE SIDEWALK OUTSIDE OF JENKS PARK PEDIATRICS.

WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE WAITING TO GET TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> THIS MAN SAYS HE WANTS TO TAKE A HOPE THE TEST BECAUSE HE WAS EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WHO HAS THE VIRUS AND NOW HIS HEAD HURTS AND HIS BODY ACHES.

PEDIATRICIAN -- THIS PEDIATRICIAN OPEN HER PRACTICE ON BROAD STREET IN FEBRUARY.

SHE TOLD US SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED SHE WOULD SOON BE A LIFELINE FOR MUCH OF THE CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.

>> IT IS HARD TO STAND BY IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SKILLS AND THE ABILITY TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE MOST DESPERATE I WAS READY TO GO TO NEW YORK BEFORE I GOT MY HANDS ON A MACHINE SHOULD >> THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GAVE HER AND ABBOTT TESTING MACHINE.

BY EARLY MAY, SHE WAS DOING COVID TESTS AROUND-THE-CLOCK.

>> THEY GAVE ME ONE MACHINE I HAVE BOUGHT THREE SINCE THEN.

I KNOW THE NEED IS GREAT.

THERE IS STILL A LINE.

I AM NOT MEETING THE NEED THIS CLINIC COULD DO.

>> EVERYONE WHO COMES HERE TO GET TESTED GETS THE RESULTS WITHIN THE HOUR?

>> THAT IS THE IDEA.

THE TEST WILL BE READY AND DEPENDING ON THE WORKFLOW, IT IS HALF.

>> ABOUT 400 PEOPLE, PARENTS ALONG WITH THEIR CHILDREN FLOCK HERE EVERY WEEK TO GET TESTED.

MANY OF THEM ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

SHE ESTIMATES SHE SPENT MORE THAN $40,000 OF THE CLINIC'S MONEY ON COVID TEST AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 10 HOURS A DAY SINCE MAY.

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?

>> THESE FAMILIES.

I CAN'T SLEEP AND STAY-AT-HOME AND HAVE A DAY OF RELAXATION KNOWING MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP IN THESE FAMILIES ARE DESPERATE.

I HAVE A SIMPLE MACHINE THAT CAN GET THEM INFORMATION AND AT LEAST PUT THEM AT EASE FOR A MOMENT.

>> PATRICIA IS A MOTHER OF FOUR.

SHE WAS WORKING AT A FACTORY IN FALL RIVER EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN SHE GOT SICK WITH COVID-19.

SOON AFTER, HER HUSBAND ALSO TESTED POSITIVE.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING DURING THAT TIME?

>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT MY CHILDREN AND MAKING SURE THEY DID NOT GET SICK BECAUSE BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAD TERRIBLE SYMPTOMS AND I DID NOT WANT MY CHILDREN TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH.

>> SHE SHOWED US THE BASEMENT WHERE SHE STAYED IN HERCENTRAL FALLS APARTMENT AFTER SHE FOUND OUT SHE HAD COVID-19.

SHE SAYS HER HUSBAND BUILT THIS BEDROOM IN TWO DAYS ONCE SHE STARTED FEELING SICK BUT STOPPED ONCE HE ALSO GOT SICK.

DURING THIS TIME, HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER STAYED UPSTAIRS WITH HER THREE YOUNGER BROTHERS.

SUDDENLY, DO YOU FIND YOURSELF BASICALLY RUNNING THE HOUSE?

>> YES.

BECAUSE MY PARENTS WOULD NOT BE CLOSE TO US.

WE HAD TO MAINTAIN OUR DISTANCE AND THAT WAS HARD FOR ME AND MY SIBLINGS, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNGER BROTHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS USED HUGGING MY PARENTS AND BEING CLOSE TO THEM.

NOW WE HAD TO KEEP A DISTANCE, IT WAS HARD FOR THEM.

I WAS REALLY SCARED BECAUSE ALL THAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE NEWS AND HOW PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS AND THAT IS ALL I WAS THINKING.

I TRIED TO BE POSITIVE AND HELP OUT MY MOM AND MY DAD SHOULD >> SHE SAYS THE FEDERAL STIMULUS CHECK THE FAMILY RECEIVED HELP THEM BOUNCE BACK ALONG WITH SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

PLOY EASE FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOL HER SONS ATTEND, THE LEARNING COMMUNITY, WOULD BRING THE FAMILY FOOD SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK.

STILL, SHE SAYS SHE WORRIES ABOUT LIVING IN CENTRAL FALLS WHERE THE INFECTION RATE REMAINS HIGH.

>> IT IS SCARY BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE PERSON NEXT TO US HAS THE VIRUS.

MANY PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR HOMES KNOWING THEY HAVE THE VIRUS.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING AS YOU TRY TO GET THIS FIRE IS UNDER CONTROL IN CENTRAL FALLS?

>> I THINK IT IS POVERTY ITSELF.

THE REAL CHALLENGE HERE IS THAT PEOPLE LIVE CLOSE TOGETHER AND HAVE TO GO OUT TO WORK EVERYDAY.

CENTRAL FALLS HAS MORE INFECTION THAN ANYPLACE ELSE IN THE STATE.

>> HE IS THE CHIEF HEALTH STRATEGIST FOR CENTRAL FALLS AND THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

>> A LITTLE ABOVE PROVIDENCE AND PAWTUCKET.

THE VIRUS TREATS EVERYBODY EQUALLY.

OUR SOCIETY DOES NOT TREAT EVERYBODY EQUALLY.

THAT INEQUALITY IS WHAT IS MAKING IT SO THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING EVERYDAY WHO MIGHT BE CONSIDERED LOW INCOME, THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE GETTING HIT.

>> WHEN WE STOPPED BY HIS OFFICE THIS FALL, HE INTRODUCED US TO CONTRACTORS WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND HANDING OUT MASKS, TRYING TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

>> THEY ARE ALL OVER THE CITY IN AND OUT OF THE STREETS INTO THE STORES REMINDING PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS.

AND REMINDING PEOPLE TO GET FLU SHOTS.

>> SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT ONE IN 10 PEOPLE IN CENTRAL FALLS HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

THE CENTRAL FALLS MAYOR ELECT SAYS SHE HAS WATCHED THOSE NUMBERS CLIMB WITH INCREASING ALARM.

>> IT IS SCARY BECAUSE IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE BY THE MINUTE.

>> WHAT MORE HELP DO YOU NEED FROM THE STATE?

DO YOU THINK CENTRAL FALLS IS GETTING ENOUGH ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE?

>> WE NEED MORE TESTING IN OUR CITY.

>> IT IS NEVER ENOUGH.

THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT EATING.

THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT CANNOT ISOLATE.

THERE ARE SO MANY SITUATIONS.

I SHOULD NOT RUN OUT OF TESTING SUPPLIES EVER.

>> THERE WAS A TESTING SITE IN CENTRAL FALLS AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC LOCATED AT A HUB FOR RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, BUT THE SITE MOVED TO PAWTUCKET IN AUGUST WHEN THE SCHOOL NEEDED THE SPACE BACK.

IT WAS A BLOW TO CENTRAL FALLS WERE ABOUT 25% OF THE RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION.

>> I THINK IT IS CHALLENGING FOR RESIDENTS HERE BECAUSE THEY FEEL SAFE WITH US HERE AS LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH US AND REACHING OUT TO US.

AS IN AS WE TELL THEM THIS TESTING SITE IS IN PER BUCKET, THEY HOLD THEMSELVES BACK -- IS IN PAWTUCKET, THEY HELD THEMSELVES BACK.

>> MORE THAN HALF OF THIS POPULATION IN CENTRAL FALLS HAS BEEN TESTED FOR COVID-19 BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY WHO ARE AFRAID TO DO SO.

THERE ARE 29 THOUSAND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN RHODE ISLAND ACCORDING TO THE LATINO POLICY INSTITUTE AT ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY.

THOUSANDS OF THEM LIVE HERE IN CENTRAL FALLS AND CANNOT COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT OR THE FEDERAL STIMULUS CHECK.

MANY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS.

>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

>> IT IS NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

THIS WOMAN HAS BEEN TESTING PEOPLE FOR COVID-19 SINCE THE SUMMER.

THROUGH HER JOB WITH THE LIFESPAN COMMUNITY HEALTH INSTITUTE.

>> MY COMMUNITY, WHAT I CAME FROM, WE BELIEVE YOU NEED TO BE SICK AND DYING TO GET THE VIRUS.

THAT IS WHY EVERYONE WAS THINKING, YOU NEED TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL AND THAT IS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE SICK.

PEOPLE WERE GETTING SCARED.

I DON'T WANT TO GO AND DO THE TEST BECAUSE I'M GOING TO END UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND I AM GOING TO DIE.

>> THE FEAR OF GOING TO THE HOSPITAL THE MAYOR ELECT SAYS HAS LED TO PEOPLE DYING IN THEIR HOMES FROM THE VIRUS.

>> I RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT A MAN WHO LIVED WITH HIS NEPHEWS, THE NEPHEWS WERE SEVEN AND EIGHT YEARS OLD, AND THE NEPHEWS FOUND HIM IN THE BATHROOM OVERNIGHT.

I GUESS ONE OF THEM WOKE UP TO GO TO THE RESTROOM AND HE WAS DEAD IN THE RESTROOM ON THE FLOOR.

THEY WERE UNDOCUMENTED.

THEY WERE SCARED.

OF CALLING ANYONE.

I DID NOT KNOW WHO THEY WERE.

THEY DID NOT CALL ME UNTIL HE HAD ALREADY PASSED.

BECAUSE OF FEAR, HE DID NOT GET TESTED.

>> THE COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP IN BIG WAYS TO ASSIST UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THEY RAISED MORE THAN $17,000 FOR THEM.

AND THE ELIJAH PROJECT CONTINUES TO DONATE FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED, A WELCOME RELIEF IN CITY WHERE ONE THIRD OF THE POPULATION LIVES IN POVERTY.

>> I KNOW FROM FAMILIES THAT HAVE TO GO TO WORK AND NOW THEY'RE LEAVING THE YOUNGER KIDS WITH THEIR 15-YEAR-OLD OR 14-YEAR-OLD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

HOW DO WE EXPECT THIS 15-YEAR-OLD AND THE YOUNGER ONES TO GET THROUGH THIS DISTANCE LEARNING IN THEIR HOME?

THERE ARE MOMS WHO CANNOT HELP THEIR KIDS WITH DISTANCE-LEARNING BECAUSE THEY NEVER SAT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER.

AND THEY DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

A YEAR FROM NOW, WE WILL KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THIS HAS DONE TO OUR KIDS IN EDUCATION.

>> A YEAR FROM NOW, THAT IS A BIG GAP.

>> IT IS A BIG GAP.

IT IS SCARY.

I FEEL LIKE AFTER THIS PANDEMIC, WE ARE GOING TO BE FACING SO MANY OTHER ISSUES BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS OR HOWEVER LONG IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> NEWS OF PROGRESS IN VACCINE DEVELOPMENT IS ENCOURAGING.

BUT IT IS NOT SLOWING THE LINE OUTSIDE OF THIS DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

>> THIS IS DEFINITELY A NEW SURGE AND A NEW LEVEL OF DESPERATION.

YOU CAN HEAR IT IN THE PHONES.

THE FUNDS DO NOT STOP ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT.

-- THE PHONES DO NOT STOP ALL DAY.

ALL NIGHT.

EVERYONE IS BEING AFFECTED.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THE WORST OF IT HAS YET TO COME?

>> I KNOW THE WORST OF IT HAS YET TO COME.

IT IS COMING AND IT IS NOT HERE YET.

WE BETTER BE PREPARED TO DIE AND PREPARED FOR A TOUGH WINTER.

>> UP NEXT, THIS MONTH, RHODE ISLAND REGAINED ITS NUMBER ONE RANKING AS THE STATE WITH THE MOST COVID CASES PER CAPITA.

THE HEAD OF BROWN UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS WITH THE RECENT SURGE OF THE MOTOR OMICRON VARIANT, THERE IS HOPE THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS WILL SOON PRODUCE THE KIND OF IMMUNITY THAT ENDS A PANDEMIC CARED THAT BELIEF IS FROM DR. ASHISH JHA, ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE AND CODED PHYSICIANS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHILE WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH HIS ONGOING ADVICE, WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIS LIFE TO TONIGHT, WE REVISIT OUR INTERVIEW FROM JUNE AND MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE OPINIONS.

>> CAN WE NOW SAY CONFIDENTLY THE WORST IS BEHIND US?

>> I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC HERE.

I KNOW IT IS A BIG HILL TO CLIMB.

WE HAVE TO GET ALL THESE PEOPLE ON BOARD THAT I DO THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE IF WE KEEP PLUGGING AWAY AT IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DR. ASHISH JHA HAS BEEN ON-CALL THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, PRESCRIBING VIRTUAL ADVICE EVERYWHERE.

HIS WORK IS BASED HERE IN PROVIDENCE AS DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT BROWN UNIVERSITY FOR HIS EXPERT OPINION HAS EVEN BEEN SOUGHT BY ELMO'S DAD FROM SESAME STREET.

>> I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO HELP YOUR SON TO UNDERSTAND.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SHARE THE SCREEN WITH A MUPPET?

>> THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

IT WAS JUST FUN AND AGAIN, FOR ME, IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE.

TO REACH KIDS AND PARENTS.

IT IS ONE THING TO TALK TO POLICYMAKERS.

KIDS HAVE REALLY SUFFERED IMMENSELY IN THIS PANDEMIC IN WAYS WE DON'T TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.

KIDS NEED SOCIAL INTERACTION.

KIDS DON'T LARGELY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

WHY THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN SUCH A DRAMATIC WAY.

THE ABILITY TO REACH THEM AND HELP THEM GET A SENSE OF THINGS WILL GET BETTER SOON, THAT NORMAL IS COMING BACK AND THEY CAN SEE THEIR LOVED ONES AGAIN, I FELT LIKE THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY SO THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO PASS THAT U.

>> HE SAYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A MEDIA MESSENGER TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY BEGAN WHEN HE NOTICED A LAG IN CRITICAL INFORMATION EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

HE THOUGHT THE RESPONSE WAS TO SLOW FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS.

>> SOME PART OF MY BRAIN THOUGHT WE CAN'T POSSIBLY BE MESSING THIS UP THIS BADLY.

I REALLY THOUGHT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CDC, THERE ARE CLEARLY WORKING ON THIS AND WHEN I FAILED TO SEE ACTION DAY AFTER DAY, I HAD THIS SORT OF FEELING OF ALL MY GOD SHOULD THINGS ARE GOING TO GET MUCH WORSE.

BUT IT TOOK A WILD TO REALIZE THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO RISE UP AND DO THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO.

WHEN YOU SEE A CONTEST OR FEE -- -- A CATASTROPHE, WHEN YOU SEE A STORM COMING, THE FIRST THOUGHT IS IT CANNOT BE THAT BAD.

>> TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, HE SAYS HE TRIED TO FILL THE INFORMATION GAP BLOGGING, GOING ON TWITTER AND RESPONDING TO AN AVALANCHE OF REQUEST FOR NATIONAL INTERVIEWS.

>> I'M SITTING HERE WITH TWO SHOTS OF MODERNA FEELING QUITE GOOD AND MY BEST GUESS IS I MIGHT NEED A BOOSTER NEXT YEAR.

>> OFFERING CLARITY ON COMPLEX AND OFTEN CONFUSING HEALTH CARE ISSUES.

ONE CLUE TO HIS VAST COMMUNICATION SKILLS MAY LIE IN HIS YOUTH.

HIS IS AN IMMIGRANT STORY.

AND A UNIQUELY AMERICAN ONE.

>> I WAS BORN IN INDIA.

MY PARENTS WERE BOTH EDUCATORS, SCHOOL TEACHERS.

I CAME TO CANADA WHEN I WAS NINE.

I DID NOT SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH.

I LEARNED ENGLISH IN CANADA.

I WAS IN CANADA FROM NINE UNTIL ALMOST 14.

MOVED TO NEW JERSEY WHERE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

>> IT WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE TEENAGER FOR WHOM ENGLISH WAS A SECOND LANGUAGE CONSIDERED A MEDIA CAREER.

>> I WAS EDITOR OF MY HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER.

I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING INTO JOURNALISM.

I THOUGHT WHAT A GREAT PROFESSION TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> HE ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO MAJOR IN ECONOMICS AND STUDY PREMED AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.

IT WAS THERE HE CAME TO GRIPS WITH A NAGGING ENTER CONFLICT OVER HIS DUAL IDENTITY.

>> I STARTED READING FOR THE FIRST TIME BOOKS ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE.

AND RECOGNIZED ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD BEEN LIVING A CLASSIC IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE OF THE STRUGGLES PEOPLE HAVE.

I HAD THESE HUGE IDENTITY ISSUES.

AM I INDIAN?

AM I AMERICAN?

I FELT VERY AMERICAN.

I ALSO FELT VERY INDIAN.

THERE WAS A SENSE OF, COULD I DO BOTH?

WOULD THAT BE OK?

THAT WAS A STRUGGLE I HAD THROUGH MUCH OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

A VERY CLASSIC IMMIGRANT STRUGGLE.

>> HE SAYS IT WAS THE HEAD OF CHAPLAINCY IN COLUMBIA WHO MENTORED HIM.

>> HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT GROWING UP AS A JEWISH KID IN BROOKLYN AND HIS OWN IDENTITY STRUGGLES AND HELP TO ME NAVIGATE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN THING.

HERE IS AN INDIAN AMERICAN KID pSTRUGGLING WITH THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE AND HERE IS A RABBI HELPING THIS INDIAN AMERICAN COME UP WITH HOW TO THINK ABOUT THEIR OWN IDENTITY.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THAT AS AN ANALOGY OF HOW AMERICANS COME TOGETHER FROM VERY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS BUT OFTEN WITH A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.

>> AFTER RECEIVING HIS MEDICAL DEGREE, A MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, TEACHING AND ERECTING THE GLOBAL HEALTH INSTITUTE AT HARVARD, HE CAME TO BROWN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020.

HIS NEWFOUND FAME FOLLOWED HIM.

>> I HAVE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME ON THE STREETS OR AT GROCERY STORES.

THAT IS DIFFERENT.

I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THAT BEFORE.

I DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE ARE PRETTY FRIENDLY.

>> THIS HEARING WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> NOT EVERYONE IS SO FRIENDLY THOUGH.

HE DISCOVERED SOMETIMES BEING A PUBLIC FIGURE CAN HAVE A DRAMATIC DOWNSIDE WHETHER ARE THOSE WHO DON'T AGREE.

FOR HIM, IT HAPPENED LAST NOVEMBER.

>> OUR FINAL WITNESS IS DR. ASHISH JHA.

>> HE TESTIFIED VIRTUALLY AT A SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY HEARING.

THE TOPIC, THE CONTROVERSIAL USE OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AS AN EARLY OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR COVID-19.

>> THIS IS A DRUG THAT HAS BEEN SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY USED TO PREVENT MALARIA AND TREAT LUPUS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FOR DECADES.

>> DOZENS OF STUDIES HAVE EXAMINED THE EFFICACY OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

EVERY SINGLE HIGH-QUALITY STUDY HAS FAILED TO FIND ANY BENEFIT OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE FOR COVID-19.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE FDA ALSO DETERMINED THE DRUG WAS INEFFECTIVE, HE SAYS SUPPORTERS OF THE USE OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE GOT ANGRY AND GOT PERSONAL.

>> BY THAT TIME, IT WAS VERY CLEAR HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE WAS NOT WORKING.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE SENATOR WHO HELD THE HEARING WAS REALLY TRYING TO USE IT AS A WAY TO SPREAD DISINFORMATION ABOUT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE TED IT WAS AN EVENT SET UP WITH BLOGGERS, A LOT OF RIGHT WING SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS WHO THEN WENT AFTER ME PERSONALLY.

AND BEGAN TO ATTACK ME.

THREATEN ME.

AND -- >> DID YOU GET DEATH THREATS?

>> YEAH, THERE WERE DEATH THREATS.

PEOPLE SAYING HE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

HE IS A MURDERER FOR DENYING HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE IS USEFUL.

HE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

SO THEY -- >> WERE THERE RACIAL OVERTONES?

>> THERE WERE.

THE RACIAL OVERTONES HAS BEEN INTERESTING.

WHEN PEOPLE GET ANGRY, WHEN PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED WITH ME, LET'S SAY I'M SAYING PEOPLE SHOULD BE WEARING MASKS.

IF YOU THINK SOMEHOW MASKS ARE AN EFFORT TO CONTROL THE POPULATION, OFTEN INSTEAD OF WHAT I'M CHRIS -- INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING WHAT I'M SAYING, I HAVE HAD OVER THE WHOLE PANDEMIC MAKE THIS RACIAL.

PEOPLE TELLING YOU GO BACK TO WHERE I CAME FROM.

THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND AMERICA.

I HAVE TRIED TO MOSTLY IGNORE THOSE.

>> HE SAYS THE RACIST RAGE AND MISINFORMATION DIRECTED AT HIM NOT DETER HIM FROM WHAT HE BELIEVES IS HIS MORAL OBLIGATION TO DISPENSE SOLID HEALTH INFORMATION.

EVEN AS THE PANDEMIC WAS POLITICIZED AND POLARIZING.

>> WE HAVE GOT TO START BEING ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF HER OWN BUBBLES.

YOU HAVE GOT TO TALK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF HER OWN INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND IT COMES TO MEDIA, I'M VERY OPEN TO TALKING TO ANY MEDIA PLATFORM THAT WILL HAVE ME.

THE ONLY RULE IS I GET TO SAY WHAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT ANSWER .

I'M ON MSNBC AND CNN.

I'M ALSO ON FOXNEWS AND NEWSMAX PEERED I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR IT.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE NEED TO SAY IT TOOK AN EPIC VIRUS FOR US TO WAKE UP AND LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THIS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME IS WE HAVE DEEP AND EQUITIES EVEN WITHIN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THE HOSPITALS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY CARE FOR POOR AND MINORITY PATIENTS TEND TO BE LESS WELL-FUNDED.

THEY HAVE FEWER RESOURCES.

THEY HAVE LESS QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEN THIS PANDEMIC HIT, IT DISPROPORTIONATELY HIT MINORITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THEY ENDED UP IN THOSE HOSPITALS AND THOSE HOSPITALS COULD NOT HANDLE THINGS.

YOU SAW A HIGHER RATES OF DEATH.

>> HE SAYS WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST MORE IN PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE THAT CAN RESPOND SWIFTLY TO VIRUS OUTBREAKS.

HE STILL PRACTICES MEDICINE AT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION VETERAN CENTER IN >> PROVIDENCE.

THERE ARE TWO REASONS I DO IT.

ONE IS I LOVE IT.

THERE IS NOTHING QUITE AS SATISFYING AS TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.

IT IS PROBABLY THE THING I FIND MOST MEANINGFUL IT ALSO KEEPS ME GROUNDED.

IT IS ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT BIG IDEAS AT ABOUT WHAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SHOULD BE DOING.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING ON THE FRONT LINES TO REMIND YOU THAT THOSE IDEAS HAVE TO GET PUT INTO PRACTICE.

IT KEEPS ME GROUNDED, KEEPS ME HUMBLE.

IT FORCES ME TO THINK MUCH MORE CLEARLY ABOUT WHAT I'M SUGGESTING.

>> HE CONTINUES BEING IN DEMAND ON NATIONAL NEWS BROADCASTS.

>> SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE ALARM WITH THE PROPER CAUTION HERE?

>> HE SAYS THE BUT -- DESPITE HIS THE BEDDING SCHEDULE, HAVING A FAMILY HELPS THEM STAY GROUNDED.

IN PARTICULAR, HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD SON KEEPS HIM HUMBLE.

>> HE SAYS TO ME I HAVE NO IDEA WHY ANY TV STATION WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

AND I SAID TELL ME MORE.

HE SAID YOU ARE SO BORING.

>> FINALLY, THIS WEEK, THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL FAILED ONCE AGAIN TO PASS THE U.S. SENATE.

SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE LONG STRUGGLE IT TOOK FOR WOMEN TO WIN THE VOTE.

MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, THEY BEGAN GOING TO THE POLLS NATIONALLY SHARED WALL MOVEMENTS FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE WERE COUNTRYWIDE, RHODE ISLAND WOMEN SPOKE UP AND SPOKE OUT.

>> WHEN THE CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN, IT AFFORDED THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHO COULD VOTE TO THE STATES.

MANY WOMEN BEGAN TO ORGANIZE AROUND THE IDEA OF WOMEN SUFFRAGE.

THESE WERE MOSTLY WHITE WOMEN WHO ALSO HAD LEARNED ABOUT ACTIVISM THROUGH THEIR ROLE IN THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT.

THEY WERE WOMEN WHO WERE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN POLITICS ALREADY AND STARTED WINNING TO AGITATE FOR HAVING THEIR VOICE HEARD IN A MORE FORMAL WAY.

SOME OF THE NAMES WE MIGHT THINK OF ARE POLLYANNA WRIGHT DAVIS AND ELIZABETH BUFFUM CHASE.

IN KATY SEVEN, THERE HAD BEEN ENOUGH OF A MOVEMENT TO GET ON THE BALLOT FOR RHODE ISLAND WOMEN TO BE ALLOWED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THEY GOT THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WHEN IT WENT TO A POPULAR VOTE, IT LOST BY A HUGE MARGIN.

MORE THAN 20,000 TO 6000.

BUT MORE ORGANIZING CONTINUED.

I WOULD SAY IN THE 1880'S AND 1890'S IS THE HEYDAY OF THIS WOMEN'S ACTIVISM IN RHODE ISLAND.

WOMEN ARE WORKING IN ALL SORTS OF AREAS TO TRY TO IMPROVE MILK CONDITIONS, TO TRY TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, THE PRISON SYSTEM IN RHODE ISLAND.

THE VOTE IS STILL AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT CONDUCTION -- OF THAT DISCUSSION.

WE GET INTO THE 28TH CENTURY, IT PICKS UP STEAM.

WOMEN WORKING FOR SUFFRAGE ARE HARKENING BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO THEY FEEL THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT IS BUILT ON.

WHAT I LIVE BECOMES ONE OF THE STATES THAT ACTUALLY DOES GRANT WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS BEFORE THE 19TH AMENDMENT.

IT GETS THROUGH THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THROUGH THE RHODE ISLAND POPULAR VOTE IN 1917.

WOMEN GAINED THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN RHODE ISLAND IN 1917 BUT THERE IS NOT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UNTIL 1920.

ONCE THE AMENDMENT IS PUT FORWARD NATIONALLY, YOU NEED TO HAVE 36 STATES RATIFY THAT AMENDMENT.

THE AMENDMENT GETS PUT THROUGH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN 1919.

36 STATES NEED TO RATIFY IT.

RHODE ISLAND RATIFIES ON JANUARY 6 OF 1920.

IT IS NOT UNTIL AUGUST OF 1920 TENNESSEE BECOMES THE 30 -- THE 36TH EIGHT TO RATIFY AND THAT IS WHY WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THE 20 -- IN THE PRESIDENT ELECTION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE 1920 ELECTION.

>> THE 19TH OF MAY WAS RATIFIED IN 1920, WHICH MEANT STATES COULD NOT STOP WOMEN FROM VOTING.

BLACK WOMEN ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH WERE BLOCKED FROM VOTING THROUGH LITERACY TESTS, POLL TAXES AND SEGREGATIONISTS.

BLACK WOMEN WOULD NOT BE GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO VOTE UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN 1965.

AND ONLY THEN BECAUSE OF THE LONG FIGHT BY THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

THINK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

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VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪