Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits CDC in Atlanta after shooting
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Current and former CDC employees sounded off as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited CDC headquarters on Monday. The visit comes after a suspected shooter damaged the CDC on Friday. It was an emotional day for some staffers as they returned to campus for the first time since…
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Current and former CDC employees sounded off as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited CDC headquarters on Monday.
The visit comes after a suspected shooter damaged the CDC on Friday.
It was an emotional day for some staffers as they returned to campus for the first time since the shooting.
The pain runs deep for Elizabeth Soda and some of her CDC colleagues.
They lined the sidewalk with signs in hand, one which read “Save the CDC.”
“This is the first time I’ve been back and it’s just so hard to see the bullet holes right now,” Soda said. “CDC does such important work. We care so deeply and work so hard. We are such an important institution and we’ve been villainized.
The group believe Kennedy’s past anti-vaccine comments have created a negative culture which may have led to last week’s attack on their campus.
“We are not the enemy. We do this work because we want to serve you. I want to make sure that everybody has the best opportunity to have a healthy and safe and long life,” another CDC employee said.
MORE COVERAGE: DEADLY SHOOTING NEAR CDC, EMORY UNIVERSITY
Current and former CDC employees chanted at RFK Jr’s motorcade on Monday during his visit to Atlanta to meet with CDC Director Susan Monarez. Their message was one of anger and frustration.
“The only day he’s coming here is when it’s empty of staff after a tragedy when he spent the weekend fishing and quote harvesting salmon,” A CDC employee said.
A Department of Health and Health Services spokesperson told Atlanta News First that Kennedy has unequivocally condemned the horrific attack and remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees.
“And in order to be able to protect lives we have to be able to get back to work and share science and data to protect the American public,” Soda said.
The department said Secretary Kennedy surveyed the damage at the CDC, met with the DeKalb Police Department and also met with the widow of Officer David Rose, who was killed in the shooting.
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