Dear Friend,

While we’ve been collectively fighting to combat anti-Black racism, the
virus has continued to take more and more Black and brown lives. Just last
week, Gov. Newsom reversed phase two opening orders by specifying a shut
down of counties that have seen an increase in COVID-19 cases. 

Our Black community members are four times more likely to die from
coronavirus.(1) Racism in the health care system, economic inequality, and
anti-Black sentiment that devalues Black lives all play a role in the
racial disparities amongst coronavirus-related deaths.(2) 

Many essential workers, those on the frontlines and most at risk, are
people of color. Yet at this pivotal moment, as the uprisings continue the
critical work of propelling anti-racist action and education, companies --
such as Amazon, Starbucks, Ralphs, Whole Foods, Target, and many others --
are ending hazard pay.(3) 

Corporations are taking advantage of the false perception of security, as
states begin to open up, and think they can use this opportunity to refuse
workers hazard pay, despite the fact that the virus will continue to take
lives well into next year and devastate families for many more years.(4)
Black liberation includes economic justice. We must do what we can to
ensure essential workers continue to receive hazard pay as they risk their
lives to provide for us. That’s why it's important that the Senate make
the Essential Workers Bill of Rights law as soon as possible.

[ [link removed] ]Write to your Senator and ask them to pass the Essential Workers Bill
of Rights to protect Black and brown workers and families.

While many of us are both struggling to survive and radically transform
our world, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, is on the verge of becoming the
world’s first trillionaire.(5) At the same time, Amazon is canceling
hazard pay and double overtime pay for its employees amid news of an
outbreak that’s impacted 600 employees resulting in 6 deaths.(6)
Bezos makes $2,489 per second.(7) It takes the average US worker two weeks
to make that. For many essential workers, it can take up to a month to
make that. Bezos is worth more than the GDPs of Iceland, Luxembourg, and
Cyprus combined. Iceland can afford universal health care, tuition-free
education, subsidized child care, nine months of maternity/paternity
leave, and a whole host of other social services. Yet somehow Amazon
claims it can’t continue paying their essential and at-risk workers an
additional $2 an hour.

The inequality working Americans -- especially working Americans of color
-- face continues mounting, and the Essential Workers Bill of Rights would
address some of those issues. It is a solution that would provide a model
moving forward. A model that creates dignity for all workers even after we
overcome this crisis -- a crisis where essential workers are at the helm.
We’ve gotten the bill through the House and now we face our biggest hurdle
yet: a Republican-controlled Senate. This is an all-hands on deck moment.
We need everyone to let their Senators know that we no longer want
corporate bailouts where CEOs hoard billions. We want a people’s bailout
where the average American no longer has to live in fear of losing their
housing and income during a deadly pandemic.

[ [link removed] ]Tell the Senate that essential workers deserve essential protections!

Yours in the fight for humanity,

Raquel, along with Angela, Annie, Brian, Caitlin, Deepthi, Gabby, Irene,
Jay, Jen, Lindsay, Molly, and Scottie (the Courage team)

Footnotes:
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Courage California (formerly Courage Campaign) makes sure our democracy works for ALL of us by fighting corruption in California politics. We believe the solution lies in exposing and solving systemic problems through strategic organizing, enhancing coordination between progressive organizations, and mobilizing civic engagement from our communities, particularly voters of color, young voters, and self-identified progressives.

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