Americans need to be more aggressive in their approach to halting the spread of the novel coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said today, Sunday March 15th. Specifically, he said he would support a 14-day national shutdown here in the United States. President Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force should adhere to this recommendation and initiate said shutdown immediately. Yesterday, March 14, 2020, Italy confirmed 398 deaths from COVID--19 in just one day. The U.S. death toll rose to 62, and the total number of confirmed cases surging to more than 3,200. More than 6,000 people have died around the world. The United States is weeks behind many other countries in mitigating the spread of this novel, deadly virus -- including Senegal which has prepared for COVID--19 since February and is reportedly able to test its citizens within a 4hr turnaround and South Korea which is able to test 15,000 citizens a day. We are behind the curve in protecting ourselves. A national shutdown is what is now needed. As evidenced by massive weekend turnout to bars in Nashville, Tennessee and New York City, New York, Americans will not, at scale, take social distancing seriously until mandated to do so. We need a 14-day national shutdown now.

Doctors in clinics cannot test for Covid-19 with personal protective equipment (PPE) even if the test kits arrive one day. We cannot see sick patients without N95 masks. Some offices are shutting down and only doing telehealth because they don’t have PPE. This should be the priority.

This is after South Carolina and Super Tuesday. Dear Move On, This is a petition for the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign and also a petition for Move On, and for Democracy For America. By June 2015 DFA and Move On had utilized reportedly over a million dollars to draft Elizabeth Warren, when suddenly the attention, the focus and the torch was passed to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent, who battled the most progressive battle for the Democratic nomination we have seen in decades came out swinging and rocked the party as no one has ever done, moving the party itself away from the center finally. The establishment did not see it coming and did not know what hit them. For the 2020 election, attention again shifted to Elizabeth Warren as it did in 2015. This time she would run, and awkwardly enough now against her progressive friend Bernie Sanders. The unfortunate end of Ms. Warren’s campaign caused a huge shift yet again, as Democracy for America shifted their support not to the Establishment candidate, but back to Senator Sanders, who has been fighting for us since 1963. And we Berners thank you immensely and immeasurably. DFA gets it. A large portion of the electorate does not. Now after South Carolina the most progressive candidate since FDR in 1932, 88 long years ago, he has hit opposition. The billionaires, the corporations, the hospitals, the CEOs, the banks, the health insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry have all rallied, joined forces, in a Stop Bernie coalition all against one single candidate who would finally break the cycle, and we welcome their hatred. All of the past candidate’s critiques of the oppositions's administration, candidate Joe Biden, have been left behind as they all join in collective show of unity together to stop the progressive movement as they do not understand our movement or the term democratic socialism confusing it with textbook socialism or even communism. An opposition always asking where Bernie is going to get the money after money suddenly is available to bail out the banks and the auto industry, then somehow there is money. The middle class is once again going to get nothing or worse, lose to another four years of Trump. If we shoot for Medicare For All, the worst that can happen is some public option bills in legislative negotiations and concessions. If we shoot for what the opposition is offering, the worst that can happen is nothing changes, and we get told that it is those damn Republicans again that would not let us get anything done. Enough. This time the middle class, the working class, should win. This petition is for you, Move On and we hope for DFA also. We are not asking for a million dollars necessarily. This is to ask you to once again step up for Bernie and help many of us draft a Draft Senator Nina Turner for his VP Running Mate. We can only pray DFA joins you. They have already endorsed him. The problem we have is the current delegate count and a pandemic that is keeping his strongest weapon, his army of door knockers including me, from getting out the vote and the perception being effectively pushed by the media that it is almost all over for Bernie Sanders. Bernie has stated before that it is ‘too early’. That was then and things have changed dynamically as they can in these things. We can no longer wait, we need a shockwave to go through the media and having the concept of the first African American VP, first woman VP and first African American woman VP, a progressive declaration that the other campaign cannot match, and should they, only look again like he is being a copycat and people will see right through it. She has been a long time supporter and co chair of his campaign, & will shut down any attempt at calling this some stunt. The time is now. Senator Nina Turner is the co chair of the Sanders campaign, a staunch and energetic advocate with a passion for Senator Sanders and has been for a long time, her name does not come out of a hat as some tactic, it comes out of not only the clear and evident support at his rallies and long standing friendship with Bernie, and her personality, her character, her way of framing the big picture with such electricity is like being taken to church, while her work for African Americans in her native Ohio and in Washington as a Senator is unquestionable and would bring so much to the campaign including more voters to reconsider the opposition ticket of back to the past. We need to flip this race back on the side of justice, and we believe the opposition campaign cannot compete with this, and any attempt to recreate it will look transparent and the voters will see any form of imitation as not flattery, and not the real thing and perhaps phony. The vision is the first African American VP in history, the first woman VP in history, the first African American woman VP in history. Now that is progressive. We would like to petition you and DFA to endorse drafting Senator Nina Turner or Ohio as the running mate of candidate for president of the United States, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. This is to create the most progressive ticket this country has ever witnessed and we would like this to be done before the Tuesday March 17th primaries and voters get the opportunity to vote for this ticket or the choice of the establishment and simply more of the same as we have been assured that candidate Joe Biden informed a gathering of wealthy donors not long ago and again nothing will fundamentally change for the middle class or the rich. We need this ticket now at this point in time, and we need you Move On and DFA, now to reach out to your members and organization as you have the unique place in history and time, and the ability and reach to help us with this. Together we can make history and pick up where FDR and MLK and RFK left off, the war on income inequality. Will you help us?

A dangerous new coronavirus (COVID-19) is at its early stages of spreading in the U.S., and appears to be spreading rapidly, with new cases increasing at an exponential rate. The DC Department of Health has established that the virus is present and spreading within Washington. Public health experts agree that more than a million lives are at risk nationwide — as the virus can cause severe respiratory distress and lung failure. The oldest among us and those with chronic health conditions are most at risk, but everyone can be sickened, and people who aren't exhibiting any symptoms can carry and spread the virus. We have seen in China and are seeing now in Europe what happens when hospitals become overwhelmed -- it is a terrible scene. We must act aggressively or we will be in the same place. Forcing businesses to temporarily close may not be an easy political choice, but it is the morally clear one, in the best interest of the people of Washington. Mayor Bowser and the DC government should heed the advice of public health experts and do all they can to #flattenthecurve at which this virus spreads. If the federal government will not take decisive action, state and local governments must. Mayor Bowser, please close non-essential businesses, especially those such as bars and restaurants where large groups may congregate, to prevent unnecessary contagion and save lives. And please recognize the impacts this will have on workers and small businesses, and use the resources of the District to ensure workers continue to get pay and that businesses forced to temporarily close are made whole. This is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, with a strong tax base and progressive council. There is no reason we can't both act to prevent public health while also taking care of the workers and local businesses being asked to sacrifice so we can do so.

Shelter matters during a disaster. As the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and public health experts around the world plead with people to stay home during the pandemic, sheltering in safe housing empowers us to save lives by slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing preserves precious hospital and public safety resources, but it also means hardworking families are suffering lost wages and layoffs. If you do not act to stop evictions and foreclosures, some of our neighbors’ ability to stay in their homes will be in jeopardy. Their loss puts every one of us at risk. That’s why, in previous times of great crisis, lawmakers have moved quickly to stop evictions and foreclosures. Ending them will also preserve judicial and law enforcement resources for the vital work of keeping us all safe. So please: join lawmakers across the United States, including Miami-Dade, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Philadelphia, New York State, and New Jersey’s own Essex County, by putting an immediate stop to evictions and foreclosures throughout Hudson County. Resources: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2020/03/coronavirus-income-loss-paying-rent-eviction-housing-covid19/607426/ https://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20.03.12%20National%20moratorium%20on%20evictions%20and%20foreclosures%20COVID-19.pdf

Those of us who lived through the 2008 crash and Great Recession saw the lasting economic effects of so many Americans who could no longer afford to pay their mortgages and rents. It ruined lives, and many Americans never recovered. It depressed the economy for a very long time. Let's not make the same mistake twice. Ask Congress to pass legislation that will maintain the economic stability of American families while we navigate this crisis.

The burden of coping with this pandemic should not fall on those who are least able to pay for it. Especially, when Amazon and Whole Foods receive huge tax breaks from the government. Bezos can afford to pay for these needy workers from his own personal wealth without breaking the bank. It is obscene that he is trying to foist this responsibility off onto his hourly workers.

Older folks and folks with medical conditions are likely going to die without emergency medical care at a hospital. Tell Mayor Donald Grebien and Governor Gina Raimondo to reopen Pawtucket's Memorial Hosptial immediately.

At the end of 2019, as the disease COVID-19 was ravaging other countries Donald Trump and his administration made the conscious decision to not take actions to mitigate the impending crisis for the American people. They made the decision to not appoint someone to oversee information about the disease and they made the decision to not order the tests needed in this crisis. This inaction has lead to an extreme economic downturn, an incredible number of job losses for working people, even more unstable conditions for the poor and homeless, and will lead to an exponential amount of preventable illnesses and deaths. We have just learned that this was not just incompetence but a conscious decision made by President Trump to protect his Re-election bid. In and interview with NPR, journalist Dan Diamond from Politico notes: "In the case of Alex Azar [Secretary of Health] he did go to the president in January. He did push past the resistance from the president's political aides to warn the president the new coronavirus could be a major problem. There were aides around Trump - Kellyanne Conway had some skepticism at times that this was something that needed to be a presidential priority." "But at the same time, Secreatry Azar has not always given the president the worst-case scenario of what could happen. My understanding is [Trump] did not push to do aggressive additional testing in recent weeks... and that's partly because more testing might have led to more cases being discovered of coronavirus outbreak, and the president had made clear - the lower the numbers on coronavirus, the better for the president, the better for his reelection this fall." I demand you immediately look into this gross negligence and do everything you can to ensure President Trump's resignation.

We are in the middle of a fast expanding pandemic

The United States has an opportunity to avoid or mitigate the overwhelming of hospitals as seen in Hubei, China, and Lombardy, Italy. Given the exponential rate at which the undetected virus spreads, investing in testing now, alongside other public health measures, will save lives, spare hospitals, and ultimately save funds. A similar per capita rate to South Korea would suggest approximately 70,000 tests a day, nationwide, should be conducted in the USA. However, according to the CDC's website, as of March 12, the last complete data available (March 6) shows a mere 137 tests run by the CDC and 1162 by public health labs.

Inclusion We first urge you to approach the problems that face our country using an intersectional equity lens. Challenges compounded by race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability are present at every level from health care to housing to climate change to education. Addressing these needs must be at the center, not the sidelines, of our government’s policy goals. We also point to Senator Warren’s—and Secretary Castro’s—practice of bringing activists with direct knowledge of and experience with these needs to the table. We ask that you not only follow that example and use these on-the-ground experts to help shape your policies, but also that you appoint them to key roles in your administration. Personnel is policy. Corruption Senator Warren framed her campaign around dismantling the corrupt channels that perpetuate structural inequity and prevent any meaningful reform. Your plan to establish the Commission on Federal Ethics aligns with Senator Warren’s proposed U.S. Office of Public Integrity, which would oversee efforts to restore transparency to our government. We ask that you go further: support a ban on professional lobbying by any former president, vice president, cabinet secretary, federal judge, or member of Congress. We ask also that you make passage of a constitutional amendment to limit campaign contributions—nullifying Citizens United—a top priority. We must have trust in our government, and that begins with ensuring our officials and elections cannot be bought. Immigration We applaud your commitment to a moratorium on deportations during your first 100 days as president, but further action is needed to eliminate the cruelty and abuse perpetrated in the name of immigration enforcement. We need comprehensive reform of our immigration justice system, and we must start with decriminalizing immigration. To prevent future abuses, we urge you to commit to the establishment of professional, independent Article I immigration courts, and to provide access to counsel in all immigration courts. You have condemned the horrific actions of the Trump administration at the border. We urge you to adopt Senator Warren’s plan for a Department of Justice task force to investigate and prosecute all reported crimes committed against detained immigrants. Student Loan Debt The rising cost of tuition across the country means that many students are crushed by student loan debt—and it’s impacting our entire economy. Black students are particularly affected: they are more likely to have federal student loans and owe more than their original debt 12 years after finishing college. We are supportive of public service, but strongly believe that across-the-board college loan debt reduction is the best approach, especially for those with increased barriers (poor and working-class students, students with family obligations, and working students). We ask you to adopt Senator Warren's approach and cancel student loan debt through executive action, immediately enabling 95% of student loan debt holders to pursue their dreams. Universal Child Care Universal child care is an investment in working parents. It provides millions of children with access to quality care and early learning. It also creates millions of well-paying jobs for child care workers and early education teachers, many of whom are women of color. Research shows that every dollar spent on quality early education saves seven dollars in the long run. We encourage you to adopt Senator Warren’s plan, which mandates that universal child care be free to any family that earns less than 200% of the federal poverty line. Crucially, the plan also establishes a partnership between the federal government and local providers to offer a network of early childhood options—including child care and preschool centers—to every family. Equality for Americans with Disabilities You have a strong history advocating for Americans with disabilities through your work on the ADA, the ADAAA, IDEA, and VAWA. It is critical that you collaborate with disability rights leaders and advocates moving forward to form a comprehensive disability rights plan. We ask that you use Senator Warren’s plan for Protecting the Rights and Equality of Americans With Disabilities as a model. This includes our ask that you to commit to combating discrimination in the labor market and workplace, ending the subminimum wage, fully funding the Office of Disability Employment Policy, improving SSI and SSDI programs, breaking down barriers to marriage, providing national paid family and medical leave, improving critical elements of the long-term services, and supporting coverage to enable the right to live in the community. We also urge you to protect the civil rights of all Americans with disabilities, including decriminalizing poverty, addressing language deprivation for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and enforcing the ADA everywhere that it is applicable. We urge you to work with the disability rights community to incorporate key priorities relating to employment, housing, opioid medications, disaster preparedness, healthcare, education, equity in criminal justice, deinstitutionalization, and other key civil rights issues into your platform. Wealth Tax These plans have a price tag. We believe in fiscal responsibility—every American should pay their fair share. We believe ultra-millionaires, who benefit most from our country’s infrastructure, should invest a little more in our country. Therefore, we ask you to adopt Senator Warren’s two cent wealth tax, which requires those Americans lucky enough to have vast fortunes to pay a two cent tax on every dollar of net worth above $50 million. Over 10 years, this tax will raise an estimated $3.75 trillion that we can reinvest in working families by supporting education, childcare, family leave, and more. --- We invite you to join us in signing this letter to Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden.