Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations
COVID-19 COALITION DEMANDS
Whereas colonial governments have never met the needs of African people anywhere in the world; whereas the very basis of this brutal, capitalist system of exploitation was built on the backs of African people; whereas this modern day, for-profit medical system was founded upon experimenting on African people, a practice that continues even today; and whereas disaster capitalism has emerged as another genocidal scheme to permanently displace our community; the Black Is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations is calling on African and all oppressed people to unite with the following demands:
1) We demand an end to all U.S. sanctions! Sanctions are economic and biological warfare that impede countries from getting various and often lifesaving needed necessities. We condemn the U.S. using COVID-19 as a weapon to enhance the sanctions used to further cripple other countries.
Moreover, sanctions also prevent the necessary exchange of information and ideas beneficial to all people. We demand an end to the Cuban embargo that prevents access to the information that Cuba is providing to the world, concerning its development of antiviral medications. This includes Interferon Alpha 2 B, which is proving to be quite effective in healing and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
2) We demand free and accessible testing for everyone. This includes necessary free transportation to testing sites.
3) We demand free health care for those who test positive.
4) We demand testing for all people without regard for legal status or police intervention, including checks for warrants. We demand that each state and municipality make this information publicly known in an effort to encourage all those who need to be tested to come forth without fear of reprisals.
5) We demand immediate and permanent housing for the homeless and that their health and nutritional needs be immediately met. We demand that all state officials publish protocols for the systems they have in place to ensure that people who are living on the streets are provided with nurture and care. We also demand to know the protocols in place for ensuring proper sanitation of current shelters and for ensuring that social distancing practices are in place.
6) We demand that the federal government and all state governments list on their websites their plans for how they will ensure the wellbeing of incarcerated people, help to guarantee that their health needs are met, that they are living under sanitary conditions, and that the potential for contracting or spreading COVID-19 or any disease is minimized or eliminated. Healthcare is an inalienable right for all and we demand that access to all medications and nutritional treatments, including vitamin supplementation, etc. be made available to those who are incarcerated.
7) We demand that clemency power be used to release the most vulnerable who are behind bars, including older people, pregnant women, people with serious illnesses, and people with compromised immune systems. The best methods for preventing the spread of disease inside a prison involves releasing people to the care of their families and loved ones.
8) We demand an end to forced slave labor of incarcerated people and decry exploiting them in any way. We denounce New York’s Governor Cuomo forced labor program, requiring prison inmates to manufacture hand sanitizers for Corcraft, a company which makes at least $50 million a year, yet only pay incarcerated people between between 16 – 65 cents an hour! This is modern day slavery and must end.
9) We demand an end to all ICE deportations.
10) We demand a moratorium on all foreclosures and evictions and that the government assumes responsibility for all mortgage and rent payments, which must be waived, not deferred, during the pandemic!
11) We demand the suspension of the shutting off of all utilities, including electric, gas, telephone, internet, etc. for non-payment during this pandemic.
12) We demand that all private and public businesses that remain open and operational during the COVID-19 pandemic develop and make public to all employees, a standard protocol in order to protect the health and well being of workers, their families and communities.
13) We demand that the government provide paid sick leave and financial assistance for all who have not been able to work as a result of businesses being forced to shut down due to emergency restrictions.
14) We demand financial assistance for all small businesses that have been forced to close and or that have lost money due to their businesses being negatively impacted by the pandemic. This includes financial support for people who are self-employed.
References
African Americans Disproportionately Represented in Studies that Don’t Require Informed Consent
https://www.statnews.com/2018/10/01/african-americans-clinical-trials/
American Medicine Was Built on the Backs of Slaves
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/06/04/american-medicine-was-built-on-the-backs-of-slaves-and-it-still-affects-how-doctors-treat-patients-today/
Unethical Clinical Trials in Africa
https://www.wemos.nl/en/unethical-clinical-trials-in-africa-2/
Despite US Blockade, Cuban Pharmacy Introducing Much Needed COVID-19 Medicines
Cuba’s Interferon Alpha 2b Successful in Treating COVID-19
How NY Prison Slave Labor Powers a $50 MM Dollar Manufacturing Enterprise
https://gothamist.com/news/how-ny-prison-slave-labor-powers-a-50-million-manufacturing-enterprise.
Cuomo Says New York Prisoners Will Make 100,000 Gallons of Hand Sanitizer to Combat Corona Virus
