All people, regardless of citizenship status or ability to pay, deserve quality healthcare. All of our lives depend on it.
Our economy works when it works for all of us. We have to prioritize working families over banks and billionaires.
Weathering this storm successfully requires keeping our people in their homes, not pushing them out.
Water is a human right and our first line of defense against COVID-19. We must guarantee access to basic needs for every person.
With schools and universities closed for weeks, we can reduce the heavy burden placed on parents, teachers, and students, and address existing inequities that are at risk of being exacerbated.
We must ensure access to factual information for all communities, safeguard democratic norms, and implement sound emergency response protocols.
We are a nation of immigrants. Scapegoating and turning against each other will only worsen this pandemic.
Seniors, incarcerated individuals, and those with disabilities are especially vulnerable right now. We must take steps to ensure their safety and security.
Climate change is inextricably linked to pandemics, as global warming trends lead to the exponential growth of viral and bacterial mutation.
We are calling upon our local, state and federal governments to act swiftly and without hesitation on the following list of demands. Our government response at all levels must be entirely focused on shoring up the economic and health foundation for ordinary families. And, this has to be the beginning of rewriting the rules of our economy and our government to ensure that everyone can thrive and has real power without discrimination.
Offer immediate unemployment benefits to impacted workers, i.e., those whose places of employment are shut down (such as college campuses, stadiums), those whose type of employment is adversely affected by social distancing, e.g., restaurants, gig economy workers, etc., and those who must stay home to care for children who are out of school.
Provide all employees -- public and private sector -- who have contact with the public at airports, schools, hospitals, public transit systems, and elsewhere with training, testing, and equipment to keep themselves and us safe.
Local businesses have to be supported to do the right thing: allowing employees to work remotely, offering paid sick and family leave, canceling events or even closing for public safety, and moving their business and sales models online (like curbside pick-up for local grocers).
In collaboration with public health experts, redesign and increase emergency shelters to promote social distancing, consistent hygiene, regular testing, and medical care.
There are thousands of individuals in jails who are at heightened risk because of their close quarters and lack of access to healthcare and cleaning supplies. We need immediate steps to reduce jail populations.
Heighten communication between essential and high risk industrial facilities and EGLE / EPA / National Emergency Response regarding emergency response protocols related to COVID-19 and resulting potential worker shortages and facility malfunction.
Pandemic planning should be included in all emergency response and climate adaptation plans.
Create a Climate Justice Taskforce to discuss long-term planning for vulnerable communities for future pandemics.
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