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Hey Swing Left,
With all that’s going on, I wanted to send a note on how we as an organization are responding to the coronavirus outbreak.
I’ll be honest; this is a rough time. It’s scary that our friends, families, and neighbors are threatened by this virus, and our way of life is changing. Social distancing doesn’t just impact our work; it’s hard on our relationships and mental health. Even still, the leaders of local Swing Left groups, national team members, and volunteers have been doing creative and inspiring things to meet this crisis head-on while continuing to make progress toward our goals.
To be 100% clear, nothing is more important to Swing Left than the health and safety of our community. We encourage you to practice social distancing, a critical tool to contain the spread of coronavirus, and not to hold or attend large in-person events. Most of our groups, as well as the campaigns we work with, have suspended all real-world events. For the most qualified guidance, please look to your state and local health authorities. Your state government’s website is a good place to start.
Right now, a lot of folks are facing serious financial hardship, caring for neighbors and loved ones, or focused on supporting local businesses and organizations. We understand that the elections may not be top of mind. But, that doesn’t mean our work to transform our government is on pause.
If you still want to continue volunteering, consider remote activities like letter writing or phone banking. We've updated the Swing Left Action Finder to point you to virtual events—so you can still find the smartest ways to help Democrats win the most important elections, from home or wherever you are.
Behind the scenes, we’re busy planning for a range of scenarios, developing new tools and resources for remote organizing, and continuing to connect you with actions to take now to help defeat Trump and the GOP.
Finally, I want to encourage everyone to be an ally, especially to communities who may be disproportionately impacted by this pandemic. Many don’t have access to paid sick leave or child care. The fear, confusion, and misinformation has led to a rise in xenophobia. Let’s take care of each other during these trying times.
This is a dark moment, but we will get through it by doing what we do best: building a brighter future for our country, together.
In solidarity,
Ethan Todras-Whitehill
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Swing Left
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