Friends,
Please tune into Senator Sanders livestream at 2pm ET/ 11am PST here- live.berniesanders.com
Yesterday, in a public press conference, Senator Sanders addressed the crisis of the coronavirus. In the press conference, the Senator said that we have an absolute, moral imperative that our response -- as a government, as a society, as business communities, and as individuals -- meets the enormity of this crisis.
What You Can Do For Bernie 2020
Get on the Dialer! Sign-up now to start making calls: berniesanders.com/call
As people work from home and are directed to quarantine, it will be easy to feel like we are in this alone, or that we must only worry about ourselves and let everyone else fend for themselves. As Senator Sanders said yesterday, now is the time for solidarity. We must fight with love and compassion for those most vulnerable to the effects of this pandemic. Because Senator Sanders and our campaign are taking this unprecedented moment seriously;
We have made the campaign decision to stop our door-to-door canvassing program for the time being. The safety and well-being of our staff and supporters is of utmost importance.
We are going to continue to talk to voters in March 17 states and beyond through our remote organizing program. Volunteers and supporters will be asked to:
Get on the Dialer! Sign-up now to start making calls: berniesanders.com/call
Make calls from home to March 17 states: AZ, IL, FL, OH. THIS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING YOU CAN DO NOW. Please tell voters to prioritize absentee voting.
Watch the Debate on Sunday! and Use the Bern app to remind your friends to watch Bernie debate Biden this Sunday, March 15
Join our national call for volunteers & supporters; Time is TBD, Friday, March 13- I will send a follow up email as soon as we have the meeting info
Download the campaign’s app: Bern; Upload your friends; Send texts and messages to them about voting
Join our livestream and webinar events; We will be launching a series of live streams with surrogates and campaign staff to make sure that we continue to talk to voters about the importance of this election. *Please stay tuned we will update everyone as these are organized in the upcoming week.
Get on the Dialer! Sign-up now to start making calls: berniesanders.com/call
What You Can Do In Response To The Outbreak
As Trump prepares to declare a National Emergency, it is important to remember that social distancing is a crucial strategy to shorten the effects of lockdown and help prevent deadly infection among our most vulnerable, especially elders and people with compromised immune systems. Reducing the rate of infection at any given time, in order to reduce the stress on our grossly inadequate healthcare system, is critical to ensuring the effects of the outbreak are minimized.
As a reminder, the CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
For additional information regarding COVID-19, please refer to the websites below:
World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/
Bernie Addresses the Nation on the Health and Economic Crisis
Bernie’s Remarks and Policy Proposals on the Coronavirus based on his press conference:
SOLIDARITY: If there ever was a time in the modern history of our country to be all in this together, this is that time. Now is the time for solidarity. We must fight with love and compassion for those most vulnerable to the effects of this pandemic. If our neighbor or co-worker gets sick, we have the potential to get sick. If our neighbors lose their jobs, then our local economies suffer, and we may lose our jobs. If doctors and nurses do not have the equipment and staffing capacity they need now, people we know and love may die. Unfortunately, in this time of international crisis, the current administration is largely incompetent, and its incompetence and recklessness has threatened the lives of many people.
DECLARING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY: First and foremost, we're dealing with a national emergency and the President of the United States must understand that and declare an emergency.
CREATING AN EXPERT AUTHORITY: We must immediately convene an emergency bipartisan authority of experts to support and direct a response that is comprehensive, compassionate and based on science and fact. In other words, Congress, in a bipartisan matter, must take responsibility for addressing this unparalleled crisis.
ESTABLISHING COVID-19 HOTLINES: National and state hotlines must be staffed with well-trained people who have the best information available. There are people who are asking themselves “What are the symptoms of coronavirus?” Who's going to help me? Where do I go to seek medical treatment? How do I get a test? When is that test going to be processed?” People have a lot of questions and at the statewide and federal level, we need experts to provide the necessary information to our people. The American people deserve transparency. If there was ever a time for transparency and honesty, this is that time and we need that information coming from credible, respected, scientific voices.
MAKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE FREE: The United States government today must make it clear that in the midst of this emergency, everyone in our country regardless of their income or where they live must be able to get all the health care they need without cost. Obviously when a vaccine other effective treatment is developed, it must be free of charge. We cannot live a nation where if you have the money you get the treatment you need to survive, but if you're working class or poor you get to the end of the line that would be morally unacceptable
ESTABLISHING PAID LEAVE: We need emergency funding for Paid Family and Medical Leave. Anyone who is sick should be able to stay home during this emergency and receive their paycheck. We do not want to see people going to work who are sick and who can spread the Coronavirus.
EXPANDING COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS: We also need an expansion of Community Health centers in the country so that every American will have access to a nearby Health Care Facility. We need to greatly expand our Primary Healthcare capabilities in this country, and that includes expanded community health centers.
LEARNING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES: We need to determine the status of our testing and processing for the Coronavirus. The government must respond aggressively to make sure that we have the latest and most effective tests available, and the quickest means of processing those tests there are other countries around the world we're doing better than we are in that regard, we should be learning from them.
EXPANDING ICU UNITS AND VENTILATORS: Not at the medical experts that I talk to dispute that there is a major shortage of ICU units and ventilators that are needed to respond to this crisis. The federal government must work aggressively with the private sector to make sure that this equipment is available for hospitals in the rest of the medical community.
EXPANDING MEDICAL PERSONNEL: Our current healthcare system does not have the doctors and nurses we need. We are understaffed. During this crisis we need to mobilize medical residents, retired medical professionals, and other medical personnel to help us deal with this crisis.
SELLING TREATMENT AT COST OF PRODUCTION: The pharmaceutical industry must be told in no uncertain terms that the medicines that they manufacture for this crisis will be sold at cost. This is not the time for price gouging or profiteering. The coronavirus is already causing a global economic meltdown which is impacting people throughout the world and in our own country.
EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: We need to provide emergency unemployment assistance to anyone in this country who loses their job through no fault of their own. Under our proposal, everyone who loses a job must qualify for unemployment compensation for at least 100% of their prior salary with a cap of $1,150 per week or $60,000 per year. In addition, those who depend on tips, gig workers, and independent contractors must qualify for unemployment insurance to make up for the income that they lose during this crisis.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD: We need to make sure the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with children have access to nutritious food. That means expanding the Meals on Wheels program. It means expanding the school lunch program and SNAP so that no one goes hungry during this crisis, and everyone who cannot leave their home can receive nutritious meals delivered directly to where they live.
HALTING ALL EVICTIONS: We need in this economic crisis to place an immediate moratorium on evictions, on foreclosures, and on utility shutoffs so that no one loses their home during this crisis, and that everyone has access to clean water, heat, electricity, and air conditioning.
EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTERS: We need to construct emergency homeless shelters to make sure that the homeless, survivors of domestic violence, and college students quarantined off campus are able to receive the shelter, the health care, and the nutrition that they need.
EMERGENCY LENDING: We need to provide emergency lending to small and medium-sized businesses to cover payroll, new construction of manufacturing facilities, and production of emergency supplies such as masks and ventilators.
MEDICARE FOR ALL: We need to make sure that in the future, after this crisis is behind us, that we have a Healthcare System that makes sure that every person in this country is guaranteed health care that they need.
Please take this situation seriously, stay safe, and remember you are not alone. Our campaign is best prepped more than any other to continue organizing, contacting voters, and win this election, despite the situation. As of last night, each March 17th state have announced that elections will continue on as planned. *Of course, this is all tentative and subject to change*
I am turning around and heading back to CA with the Bay Area team. We will continue working for the revolution remotely, and will keep everyone updated as the situation changes. As always, please contact me with any questions you might have.
Love & Solidarity,
Erik Eriksen