Special Issue March 2020 Volume 14, No. 4 LiberationNews.org NEWSPAPER OF THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION /PSLweb @PSLweb THE TRUMP CORONAVIRUS PLAN: CORPORATE PROFITS FIRST, LIVES LAST PHOTO: KEVIN DIETSCH he conduct of the U.S. government weaknesses in the economy. Financial Fight the virus, not the people! Liberation and the La Riva/Peltier since the beginning of the global institutions went into a state of panic. But presidential campaign are calling for a coronavirus pandemic has been for the big banks, relief was massive and While the Chinese people and people’s program to fight the disease and Tnothing short of criminal. The Trump swiftly delivered. their government battled the virus the inequality that makes it so much worse. administration had plenty of advance Shortly after the pandemic reached the with remarkable success, a U.S.-led Every worker regardless of immigration warning that the virus was making its way United States, the Trump administration disinformation campaign fostered anti- status or tax classification should to the United States before the first U.S. along with Democrats and Republicans Chinese racism. Stories proliferate the be entitled to full sick pay and 100% death was recorded on Feb. 29, and yet alike in Congress started preparing to bail print and electronic media of racist signs unemployment insurance. A nationwide absolutely no national plan of any kind was out big corporations. While some plans and verbal abuse of Chinese people and moratorium should be declared ending formulated ahead of time. included more concessions to workers other Asian people perceived as Chinese. evictions and foreclosures. War time Testing for coronavirus infection was who are bearing the brunt of the crisis, In California high school students emergency production measures should virtually non-existent, and no serious such as (limited) paid sick leave and the assaulted a classmate, accusing him of be implemented to compel the production efforts were made to compel the mass expansion of food stamps, there is a clear being infected. College students have of life-saving equipment and health system production of these tests. Millions of ruling-class consensus that hundreds of tweeted racist messages about dropping infrastructure. workers continued to go to their jobs while billions of dollars should be injected into classes that have Asians students enrolled. Vacant housing owned by real estate they were sick because they could not the coffers of big business with virtually no In Los Angeles, a flyer with a World Health speculators should be seized to house afford to lose a paycheck. No considerations strings attached. Organization logo was posted in an area the homeless. Emergency networks for were made for those who were facing On March 12, the Federal Reserve neighborhood telling people to avoid Asian the distribution of high-quality food and homelessness, incarceration in the prison announced a $1.5 trillion bailout program American establishments to avoid being supplies for free must be immediately system or detention in ICE facilities. in the form of short-term loans. An exposed to coronavirus. created. All health care should be free, On March 11, Trump appeared on additional $700 billion of aid in guaranteed Blaming a particular group of people for guaranteed as a human right and as an national TV to speak about emergency asset purchases was announced on March a medical crisis is not a new phenomenon essential element of the fight against the measures. Up to that point he had 15. Interest rates were slashed to zero to in the United States. The history of the coronavirus. Prisoners at particular risk downplayed the seriousness of the virus, facilitate free money flowing into the coffers HIV/AIDS epidemic is a historically recent should be freed, ICE raids should end and claiming it was similar to the flu. The flu of the Wall Street financial institutions. example of how the government and societal all detainees at detention centers released, mortality average is 0.1 percent, while the When it comes to social programs like institutions were quick to first blame and sanctions should be lifted on Iran, coronavirus mortality rate is as high as 3 Medicare for all, wiping out student debt or Africans, then Haitians, and then when the Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea and all percent in many places. combating climate change by transitioning epidemic disproportionately hit the LGBTQ targeted nations. from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the community, gay men in particular. The people of the United States and No hesitation to bail out Wall Street media and establishment politicians scoff the people of the world can unite and and say it is impossible to pay for. But the The socialist plan: lives over profit defeat the virus. But that will require a The pandemic triggered a stock market ruling class had no problem finding trillions struggle against the greed of Wall Street crash and raised fears of a long-lasting of dollars for the big banks and corporations Society does not have to be organized and the criminal negligence of the Trump recession based on the already-existing as soon as assistance was needed. this way. The Party for Socialism and administration. 2 COVID-19 CRISIS
Socialist presidential candidates: Relief for the people, not Wall Street!
he Party for Socialism and Liberation is running mass demonstrations and other actions opposing the Gloria La Riva for President and Leonard Peltier for wars and occupation in Central America, Iraq, Palestine, Vice President in the 2020 election. Both candidates Afghanistan, Palestine, Yugoslavia and elsewhere. Tare lifelong fighters for the rights of working people Gloria has worked for decades to defend Cuba’s and the oppressed. sovereignty against the U.S. blockade. She was awarded The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the need Cuba’s Friendship Medal in 2010 for her many years of to build a political movement independent of the two Cuba solidarity, and was the coordinator of the National main ruling class parties. Regardless of what measures Committee to Free the Cuban Five, unjustly imprisoned are ultimately passed, de-facto Democratic Party leader in the United States. Nancy Pelosi in her negotiations with Trump’s Treasury Gloria has traveled to Venezuela many times since the Secretary has expressed her willingness to agree to a deal presidency of Hugo Chávez in 1999. As the U.S. government’s that leaves 80 percent of employees without sick pay. There aggression against Venezuela intensified in early 2019, is no substantive disagreement between Democratic and Gloria traveled there from February to March, conveying Republican politicians over spending huge sums of the the Venezuelan people’s resistance to the U.S. economic public’s money to bail out the biggest corporations and blockade and military threats, via video and articles. their major investors. Gloria is active in the struggle for immigrant rights. In GRAPHIC: RACHEL SILANG As socialists, Gloria and Leonard believe that the needs November 2018, she accompanied the refugee caravan of Gloria La Riva and Leonard Peltier of the people should take priority over the profits of the 7,000 Hondurans for eight days in their march through big banks and corporations. Massive programs need to be Mexico to reach the U.S. Gloria organized support for the of the Anishnaabe, Dakota and Lakota Nations. He became initiated right away to distribute food and supplies for free, Black Fire Fighters Association in their struggle to end racist a member of the American Indian Movement in 1972, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure and make it free to and sexist discrimination. A longtime supporter of LGBTQ engaged in community struggles for Native sovereignty everyone and guarantee that no worker will be left without rights, Gloria participated in the first National March in from Seattle to South Dakota. an income, a home or utilities. ICE detention centers 1979 and subsequent national marches. She is a strong The U.S. government waged an all-out war against should be closed and huge numbers of incarcerated people supporter of women’s right to free abortion on demand. AIM. Leonard Peltier was falsely accused of killing two FBI should be released, and the racist neglect of Black, Native, A longtime union activist, she is First Vice-President of agents and has been held as a political prisoner by the U.S. Latino and other oppressed communities during times of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, CWA Local 39521 in San government since 1976. crisis must end. Francisco, where she lives. Peltier’s case has drawn support from renowned A more extensive list of measures supported by the La political and cultural figures such as Nelson Mandela, Riva/Peltier campaign is detailed on the following page. Meet Leonard Peltier Alice Walker, Desmond Tutu, Jesse Jackson and the governments of many Native nations. Through our Meet Gloria La Riva Leonard Peltier, a champion for the rights of Native presidential campaign, the Party for Socialism and and all oppressed people, has been in prison for 44 years, Liberation aims to raise the profile of the fight to free Gloria La Riva, 2020 Presidential candidate, is a labor, persecuted by the U.S. government for a crime he did Leonard Peltier and all political prisoners, including community and anti-war activist based in San Francisco, not commit. Since his arrest in 1976, an international Mumia Abu-Jamal, Mutulu Shakur and many others. California. In 2016, as the presidential candidate of the movement has demanded his freedom while Peltier Leonard Peltier has dedicated his life and sacrificed Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Peace and continues to speak out for justice from behind prison enormously to the fight for a world free of exploitation and Freedom Party, Gloria received the most votes of any walls. The Party for Socialism and Liberation is honored by racism, where all people can determine their own destiny socialist presidential candidate since 1976. his participation in our 2020 presidential ticket as Gloria and have the social rights they need to live in dignity. For Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gloria attended La Riva’s running mate. more information about the fight to free Leonard Peltier, Brandeis University where she was active in affirmative Leonard Peltier was born on Sept. 12, 1944 on Turtle visit the website of the International Leonard Peltier action struggles. Gloria has been a key organizer of many Mountain Indian Reservation, in Belcourt, North Dakota, Defense Committee at www.whoisleonardpeltier.info.
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From the La Riva/Peltier presidential campaign and the Party for Socialism and Liberation A people’s program to fight the virus
he Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Gloria La Riva/Leonard Free health care Peltier presidential campaign call for Tan immediate emergency program to Free testing only works with combat the Coronavirus crisis involving the following measures: free treatment
Health care must be provided for free to Full sick pay and 100% all. If you cannot afford a test, how can you afford treatment? The profits of the insu- unemployment insurance for rance companies, pharmaceutical indus- every worker, no evictions try and all other predatory businesses that grow rich off of the current health care sys- or foreclosures tem should be discarded in the interests of preserving life and defeating the virus. Bail out the people, Co-pays, deductibles, and any other barrier standing in between people and medical not the banks! treatment should be suspended. Special attention should be paid to Expand unemployment insurance to populations that have been discrimina- cover 100 percent of wages lost due to clo- ted against and neglected by the U.S. heal- sings, layoffs, illness or if a worker is caring thcare system. Native reservations, Black, PHOTO: LIU CHAN/XINHUA for a sick person. This unemployment insu- Latino and other oppressed communities Heroic health care workers can help stem the pandemic. rance should be provided indefinitely for must be guaranteed equal access to treat- the duration of the pandemic and associa- ment. There should be a massive increase the medical community. Retired medical and other oppressed communities have ted economic recession. There should be in the number of medical staff in pri- professionals, medical residents and medi- their needs addressed without delay or dis- an immediate moratorium on utility shu- sons, who must be provided with modern, cal students should be organized to help crimination. toffs, evictions and foreclosures. No debt high-quality equipment. strengthen our healthcare infrastructure. should be accumulated over this period to Strengthen and expand sanitation in landlords, utility corporations or banks. mass transit and public places. Provide International cooperation All these measures should apply to Secure housing for all appropriate protective gear for workers in undocumented workers and independent these sectors. Initiate a large-scale public and solidarity contractors as well. Financial assistance education campaign alongside community should be provided by the federal govern- Empty dwellings should be organizations to inform the people about End the devastating ment to compensate small businesses for seized to provide shelter for what precautions they should be taking to their losses. slow the spread of coronavirus. economic sanctions imposed all people without housing. by the U.S. government on War time emergency How can you quarantine if you do not Relief not repression Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and have a home? There are roughly 16 million North Korea production and distribution vacant dwellings in the United States. measures Most of these units are owned by specu- No one should have to deal lators and real estate firms that are essen- with the pandemic while Sanctions are blocking the govern- tially gambling on the housing market and ments’ ability to acquire the supplies nee- Organize the compulsory fueling the gentrification boom in the pro- fearing the repressive actions ded to combat the pandemic. The cruel mass production of cess. Their financial interests must not be effects of the Trump administration’s allowed to imperil public health. of the police, prisons or ICE “maximum pressure” campaign against critical goods Likewise, as many housing units as Iran have been on full display as the coun- needed should be provided for victims of Sanitary conditions should be gua- try is among those with the highest rates Produce COVID-19 test kits, ventilators, domestic violence. No one should be forced ranteed in all prisons and jails. Massive of coronavirus infection and fatalities in protective equipment and medical equip- to stay in an abusive situation due to the numbers of prisoners should be relea- the world. Cuba has done groundbreaking ment at cost to meet the urgent need. The pandemic. Immediate emergency shelter sed outright to alleviate the overcrowding medical research and is world-renowned government has the power to compel com- and financial support should be provided to that would make it impossible to contain for its acts of international solidarity in the panies to produce critical goods, requisi- all people in need of shelter for any reason. the disease. The movement against mass field of health. End the blockade of Cuba tion certain types of property and expand incarceration has raised demands for the so the world can benefit from the country’s production, impose price controls and release in particular of elderly inmates, scientific expertise. allocate raw materials for the “national Strengthen the those with chronic health conditions, and The United States should adopt best defense.” The government must use these public health system those convicted for non-violent offenses or practices implemented by countries that powers now and end shortages of all criti- those who have not been convicted at all. have effectively dealt with the pandemic, cal goods needed to defeat the coronavirus Stop all ICE raids and deportations. such as China, rather than demonizing pandemic, including those to protect front- Requisition vacant Shut down ICE detention centers, which these governments in the pursuit of impe- line medical and social services personnel. are notorious for unsanitary conditions rialist foreign policy goals. If travel restric- commercial property for and providing inadequate medical atten- tions are determined to be necessary from No profiteering in this crisis! medical use tion. Immediately release all detainees. All a public health perspective, they must be emergency assistance of any type offered by implemented in consultation with all affec- A centralized system of free distribution Re-open closed clinics and hospitals, the government during the crisis should be ted countries and in a manner that protects should be created to guarantee that ever- and build new medical facilities. Expand available regardless of immigration status. the rights of all visitors and immigrants. yone has safe access to high-quality, nutri- sanitation efforts. Any and all vacant com- Anti-Asian racism has been stoked by Extend support to countries in need of tious food and other essentials. Building mercial, industrial and residential space politicians and the media, who have refe- assistance and coordinate supply chains on existing programs like meals-on-whe- should be utilized to meet these needs. rred to the pandemic as the “Chinese around the world to ensure the most effi- els and emerging grassroots community Follow China’s example and rapidly cons- virus” or a “foreign virus.” Rather than cient production and distribution of medi- networks, a system must be established to truct makeshift hospitals and medical promoting racism, public education cam- cal goods possible. Zero tolerance for provide all the necessary supplies free of centers using eminent domain against big paigns should combat these reactionary efforts by pharmaceutical corporations charge to everyone who has been medica- businesses and landlords as necessary. and anti-science myths. Assure that people to secure intellectual property rights or lly quarantined, is especially at risk or has The government can coordinate and historically neglected by the government in any way profit from the production of a been instructed to remain in their homes. provide resources for the mobilization of such as Native nations, African American coronavirus vaccine. In the middle of a pandemic... FUND NOT PEOPLE’S WALL ST. NEEDS BAILOUTS
1. free treatment FOR ALL
2. Unemployment benefits at 100% PAY With no cutoff
3. STOP ALL layoffs, Deportations, evictions, and forE- closures
4. Federal Aid to small Businesses