Dear MoveOn member,
The novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 is here. After weeks of watching the global pandemic unfold, we're now seeing the virus affect many of our communities, our families, our politics, our elections, our jobs, and more. And while the full extent of the virus's impact is still unclear, it's already exposing underlying problems in our country including these three major ways:
- Donald Tump and the GOP have put the profits and the needs of corporations before caring for our communities. Their corruption, ineptitude, and secrecy are putting millions at risk.
- Americans are at risk not just from the virus, but from health and economic insecurity. We need Medicare for All, paid sick leave, and other measures, so folks know that missing a day's work won't cost them their job or their health insurance, and so everyone gets the tests, vaccines, and treatments they need.
- The response from the Trump administration, the media, and people across the country is stoking fear, xenophobia, and racism—and Trump and the Republicans are doubling down with thinly-veiled racism and senseless fearmongering.
Trump and his administration have proven that they will continue to put profits for the wealthy and corporations ahead of the needs of the rest of us. Trump is empowering Big Pharma and showing concern for industries that he and his cronies are personally invested in—while overseeing an inept and dangerous response to this crisis. From gutting the federal agencies tasked with coordinating the response across states to spreading inaccurate information on Fox News, to appointing Mike Pence to lead the efforts when Pence doesn't believe in science to putting a former pharmaceutical executive who oversaw price gouging of lifesaving medicines in charge of ensuring treatments remain affordable, the federal government's response has been harmful and continues to put more lives at risk as the health crisis grows.
Furthermore, this crisis is exposing the failings of our health care system. No one should have to worry about a medical bill causing bankruptcy, or have to put off going to the doctor because they can't afford the cost of the visit or the time off from work, or be denied care because they can't pay. We must move toward a universal coverage system like Medicare for All to ensure that everyone is able to get the care they need, and workers should have paid sick time so they can rest and recover, or care for their loved ones. We starting to see some progress, as a number of companies have announced paid sick leave for employees and several states have directed insurers to cover COVID-19 tests—but it's far from enough and leaves out the uninsured, so we need to make sure that everyone has access to health care, paid sick leave, and other social safety net supports.
And this crisis is exposing racism and xenophobia. Viruses know no nationality. But just as this viral outbreak is exposing failures of our health care system, it's also uncovering racism and xenophobia toward Asians in America. Attacks against Asians are on the rise, Asian-owned businesses are losing customers, and biased media reporting is fueling misinformation and fear. We now see Republican officials misidentifying the virus intentionally to lay blame at Asian countries and deflect from their own responsibility for a failed response—and this could lead to more hatred, fear, prejudice, and even violence.
We all must condemn violence and hatred, and we must unite as a community to combat this global health crisis. Hate and fear will only sow discord.
In order to create the kind of country that we all want to see, Trump must be removed from office, and it will take all of us working together to ensure that he is voted out. Look for more emails from MoveOn with details on all of the ways you can take action to ensure that, we not only defeat Trump, but we mobilize people across the country who are ready to fight for the progressive changes we need in order to care for each other during this public health crisis, strengthen our communities and our social safety net, and make America a place where everyone can thrive.
Take care of yourself and your community, speak out against hate, and get ready to work so we win in November.
Thanks for all you do.
–Emma, Reggie, Jenn, Mark, and the rest of the team
P.S. For the most up-to-date information on how you can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your community, visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
P.P.S. Do you see a way that you can strengthen your own community, your local government can take actions, or local businesses can be responsive in this moment? Click here and in 5 minutes you can start a petition and organize your community to take action.
Want to support MoveOn's work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your ongoing support, now more than ever. Will you stand with us?
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This email was sent to Mar Alfaro on March 10, 2020. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. If you'd like to receive less frequent emails from MoveOn, you can click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
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