Abdullah Shihipar

Abdullah Shihipar is a writer who focuses on public health, race, class, and other social justice issues. He leads Narrative Projects & Policy Impact Initiatives at the People, Place & Health Collective at Brown University.

A black and white photo of two people handing out Narcan.

In Defense of Drug Decriminalization—Yes, in Oregon In Defense of Drug Decriminalization—Yes, in Oregon

By passing Measure 110, Oregonians sought to begin undoing the harms caused by over 50 years of a failed War on Drugs. Those harms won’t be fixed overnight.

Sep 8, 2023 / Abdullah Shihipar, Alexandria Macmadu, and Brandon D.L. Marshall

ICE Is Detaining More Immigrants. Covid Is Putting Them in Danger.

ICE Is Detaining More Immigrants. Covid Is Putting Them in Danger. ICE Is Detaining More Immigrants. Covid Is Putting Them in Danger.

The Biden administration is placing millions of incarcerated people—including over 20,000 who are in ICE detention—at risk of a Covid-19 illness, disability, and death.

Jan 25, 2022 / Sophia Gurulé and Abdullah Shihipar

People waiting in a long line for covid test in Los Angeles

The Pandemic Shows Why We Need Universal Health Care The Pandemic Shows Why We Need Universal Health Care

Why does the richest country in the world have the most Covid deaths? A primary reason is that the United States does not have a free, universal health care system.

Dec 23, 2021 / Abdullah Shihipar for The Nation

Tenant organizers in Los Angeles

Pandemic Solidarity Transformed Our Society. Now We Need It Again. Pandemic Solidarity Transformed Our Society. Now We Need It Again.

In attempt to stem the tide of death, cities, states, and the federal government passed unprecedented reforms. Fighting to keep them is an important way to counter pandemic depress...

Oct 11, 2021 / Abdullah Shihipar

Walgreens covid vaccine site

Relying on Public-Private Partnerships Has Weakened America’s Pandemic Response Relying on Public-Private Partnerships Has Weakened America’s Pandemic Response

It’s happening all too often: A private company receives public funds for the public good, only to act in the best interests of its shareholders instead.

Sep 30, 2021 / Abdullah Shihipar

President Joe Biden

OSHA Can Do Much More to Prevent Covid Transmission at Work OSHA Can Do Much More to Prevent Covid Transmission at Work

Biden’s vaccine mandate for employees is good—but making employers responsible for covid safety measures would be even better.

Sep 22, 2021 / Abdullah Shihipar

A mobile Covid test site in Times Square

Covid Is Here to Stay. This Is How We Should Respond. Covid Is Here to Stay. This Is How We Should Respond.

Learning to live with Covid-19 is not an individual state of mind.

Sep 17, 2021 / Column / Abdullah Shihipar

Tents of asylum-seekers at the Southern border of the US

Global Vaccine Inequity Could Make Migration Harder Than Ever Global Vaccine Inequity Could Make Migration Harder Than Ever

Migrants are facing even more restrictions in the Covid era—and thanks to lack of vaccine access in lower-income countries, they will be less likely to meet them.

Sep 15, 2021 / Abdullah Shihipar

We Can’t Message Our Way Out of a Public Health Crisis

We Can’t Message Our Way Out of a Public Health Crisis We Can’t Message Our Way Out of a Public Health Crisis

As the coronavirus has spread, public officials have spent a lot of time urging people to wear a mask and socially distance, when they can’t stay home—and offered not much else.

Dec 9, 2020 / Abdullah Shihipar

Student at a campus food pantry

These Students Took Care of Each Other When Their Universities Didn’t These Students Took Care of Each Other When Their Universities Didn’t

When their universities failed to provide support during the early chaos of the coronavirus outbreak, students launched mutual aid efforts across the country to share resources and...

Apr 13, 2020 / Abdullah Shihipar

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