|
|
|
John,
We reached out last week about the coronavirus and all that our government is doing -- and not doing -- to help mitigate the short and long-term effects of this outbreak.
Since then, the virus has continued to spread, the death toll has risen, and the need for swift decisive action by the government has grown.
BLM chapters across the country are working in local communities to implement COVID-19 solutions like food banking, community child care, and elder care.
We’re stepping up -- and our leaders and elected officials must do the same.
Demand the government take care of all people, but especially working families, the unhoused, the incarcerated, and the unemployed. Take action now.
Thank you,
Black Lives Matter Global Network
----------------------Forwarded Email----------------------
From: Black Lives Matter Global Network
John --
The true rate and magnitude of the coronavirus in the United States remains illusory and fragmented at best and a deadly moral and political catastrophe at worst.
And compounding the problem, the lack of a public healthcare system means we are relying on our patchwork system designed for corporate profit, not providing care and ensuring the health of our citizens.
The result will be early deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. And the most frustrating part is that this was entirely preventable.
This contrast in priorities is no more clearly made visible than by the federal government last Thursday injecting $1.5 trillion into financial markets, money which should have been given toward funding of mass testing including testing sites, providing relief to the poor and unemployed, providing meals to all homeless and working poor, wiping out debt, and so much more.
We need more. We demand more. Will you join us? Add your name now.
Join us in demanding the following from our federal government:
- Immediately pass a Coronavirus relief package now that provides emergency funding assistance to all states to cover expenses to massively test the population in the millions and provide emergency food and shelter to all homeless and poor
- Provide a protection and testing plan for inmates while in custody and upon release
- Expand SNAP and unemployment for the duration of the pandemic
- Immediately legislate fully paid sick leave for all workers
- Implement an immediate moratorium on evictions and utility shut-offs
- Emergency funding for family and community-based childcare for families who cannot work from home
- Emergency funding for mental health services
If we can learn anything from our neighbors overseas, we know that the coronavirus can be successfully contained only if immediate coordinated government action is implemented.
At the current rate, the United States is at risk of experiencing not only a deadly healthcare crisis but one that has the potential to result in massive social, economic, and political upheaval as systems reach crisis points and begin to fracture.
We have seen the devastating effects of government abandonment that produced human rights failures like Hurricane Katrina. Katrina showed how government abandonment typified by systemic racism and classism resulted in preventable death and devastation.
We do not want to see this repeated with the coronavirus. We can prevent such devastation, if we act now.
Will you join us? Add your voice to ours now.
Signed by:
Black Lives Matter Global Network
P.S. BLM Global Network Chapters are working in local communities to implement COVID-19 solutions like food banking, community child care, and elder care. We’ll be in touch soon with ways you can help if you are able. |
|
Black Lives Matter Global Network
|
|
To unsubscribe, please click here.
|
|
|
|
Sent via ActionNetwork.org.
To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Black Lives Matter Global Network, please click here.
|
|
|
|