Comrade,

In the midst of an ongoing coronavirus epidemic, the DC Tenants Union is calling on Mayor Bowser and the DC Council to immediately stop all evictions until the WHO declares that the pandemic is over. Metro DC DSA has signed on to their demands, alongside a dozen other organizations (and more!). We know that the DC Council has proposed emergency legislation under consideration to provide an immediate moratorium—but that's not enough. Just because evictions can't be carried out, doesn't mean that tenants can't be sued. We need the Mayor and the Council to urge the D.C. Superior Court to halt all eviction proceedings immediately. And we need your help to make sure they get the message!

The highly infectious nature of COVID-19 makes it imperative to reduce the burden on the court system caused by the eviction process. Every day hundreds of tenants attend hearings in the Landlord Tenant Branch of D.C. Superior Court, where they sit in close proximity to one another. These conditions are no different than those at athletic events or other public gatherings that have been cancelled as a result of the state of emergency, and they are almost certainly more likely to involve the people most vulnerable to the disease: the elderly, the immunosuppressed, and those with inadequate healthcare. To reduce community spread while maintaining the right to due process in eviction cases, there is no solution other than a similar moratorium on all eviction proceedings. We are also concerned that once the pandemic is at its end, residents will be evicted if they were behind on rent during the pandemic.

Please take time to call the Mayor's office and demand she put a moratorium on evictions and stop all eviction proceedings in DC. The number is (202) 727-2643. Below is a script you can use:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am a DC resident. I'm calling to ask you to to impose an indefinite moratorium on evictions until the pandemic is over. You should also urge the Landlord and Tenant Branch of DC Superior Court to halt its operations and cancel all hearings for the foreseeable future. If DC is in a state of emergency, we cannot afford to remove our most vulnerable residents from their homes. I am also concerned that if tenants are in arrears after the pandemic is over, they will be immediately evicted. I urge you to consider relief measures for tenants in the wake of a pandemic that is sure to hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest. Cities including San Jose and San Francisco, California, as well as a number of municipalities in Europe, have recognized the need to protect their residents in this time of crisis. The District of Columbia must join them.

[if negative reaction] I hope you reconsider. It's important we act quickly to contain this virus, and the best way to do that is make sure everyone has a place to self-quarantine.
[if positive reaction] Thank you for listening, and I hope that you'll make an announcement soon about how you plan to keep tenants and our communities safe.

Once you've called, spread the word on social media! Here are some suggested posts:

Tenants can't self-quarantine if they've been evicted! Call @CouncilofDC and @MayorBowser today and demand they impose a moratorium on eviction proceedings until the pandemic is over #NoHomeNoQuarantine https://bit.ly/2xvUyiN

The @DCTenantsUnion is demanding a moratorium on ALL evictions until the pandemic is over. Evictions during #coronavirus endanger tenants, their families, and all DC residents. Call @MayorBowser and @CouncilofDC now! https://bit.ly/2xvUyiN

Wash your hands, check in with comrades who are especially at risk, isolate yourself as much as possible, and stay safe!

In solidarity,

Metro DC DSA Steering Committee