truthout--2020-05-18--Far Right Extremists Hope to Incite New Civil War Amid Political Chaos of COVID

The U.S. government has the official public policy of never negotiating with terrorists , paying them ransom or otherwise surrendering to their demands .
The logic is simple : to give in to terrorists is to encourage more violence and other attacks .
It would appear that the state of Michigan does not follow the same policy .
Last Thursday , the Michigan state legislature announced it would not convene because of threats of violence and chaos by armed right-wing militias and other paramilitaries , as previously seen during the recent anti-lockdown protests .
In what could be construed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently ordered such paramilitary groups and right-wing thugs to take up arms and to threaten Democratic-led state governments such as Michigan ’ s in order to force them to “ reopen ” their state .
Such behavior is part of a broader pattern of right-wing terrorism and violence in the United States where armed militias and paramilitaries have allied with the Republican Party in its effort to delegitimize and undermine democracy .
Such an alliance is common to failing democracies and rising fascist movements .
The example offered by the Nazi Party and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most ominous .
Right-wing terrorism is and will be a future template for Trump and his movement against their perceived or real enemies .
White neo-fascist violence , and the threat of such violence have consistently escalated during the Age of Trump .
Matters are now so dire that even The New York Times , which views itself as a neutral “ journal of record , ” is sounding the alarm about Trump ’ s armed paramilitary groups .
Last Friday , columnist Roger Cohen published an op-ed entitled “ The Masked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued this warning : Ultimately , the upcoming presidential election in November will be a test of the United States ’ ability to have a peaceful transfer of power — assuming the election take place , and assuming Trump is somehow defeated , an outcome that seems increasingly unlikely .
How are the anti-lockdown protests in Michigan and elsewhere connected to the history of the Tea Party movement and its network of right-wing plutocrats and other backers ?
What is the role of white supremacists and other right-wing extremists in Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-wing militias and other paramilitary groups trying to plan for and incite a second American civil war and armed insurrection — which they call “ the boogaloo ” ?
If Donald Trump loses in November , how will these armed militias likely react ?
Is Trump actively encouraging right-wing violence through stochastic terrorism ?
And if so , why aren ’ t the American people mobilizing against such anti-democratic behavior ?
In an effort to answer these questions I recently spoke with investigative journalist David Neiwert , a contributing writer for the Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author of several books , including the recent Alt-America : The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump , Eliminationists : How Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right and the forthcoming Red Pill , Blue Pill : How to Counteract the Conspiracy Theories That Are Killing Us .
Chauncey DeVega : The anti-lockdown “ protests ” in Michigan and elsewhere appear to be staged events .
In essence they are fake protests which are sponsored and created — just like the Tea Party “ movement ” from several years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oligarchs .
In a series of recent essays , you have suggested that these events are more complicated than that .
Can you explain ?
David Neiwert : They are astroturf protests in the same way that the Tea Party movement was put in place by people who have corporate right-wing money as well as the monetary support of very rich families such as that of Betsy DeVos [ Trump ’ s education secretary ] .
But the “ lockdown ” protests are a movement that has taken on a life of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with structure and organization .
The Tea Party initially was backed by right-wing corporations , interest groups and private money , which is why it had so much support from Fox News .
But within about six to eight months the Tea Party had its ranks swell with far-right extremists from the Patriot movement .
Over the next few years the Tea Party became a conduit for the revival of the Patriot movement , where right-wing extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters became closely associated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The full integration of these right-wing extremist militia groups and the Tea Party took some time to happen , but with Trump it is complete .
With individuals and groups such as the DeVos family having set up the structure , it is easy for these anti-public health “ protests ” to spread across the country .
The right-wing backers of the Tea Party created their astroturf machine and now it is a type of Frankenstein monster that rampages across the country .
Who are the various elements at these coronavirus rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news media really be focusing on ?
Nothing about this is that invisible .
So much of it is visible .
It is a matter of understanding its context .
Men wearing camouflage and carrying guns are not there for the purpose of defending “ gun rights.
” They are at protests in Michigan and other states to threaten the legislators and the governor .
These men with guns are at these protests to threaten anybody who tries to stop them when they go marching into the state house in Michigan .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If black people had behaved the same way with these guns , wearing camouflage and threatening legislators and the governor , they would have been shot dead by law enforcement .
How do you interpreting the symbols and codes being displayed and shared at these rallies ?
Confederate flags were ubiquitous .
There was also the Gadsden flag .
The latter is now associated with the Tea Party .
The Gadsden flag was associated with the right-wing extremist militants in the Patriot movement in the 1990s , and now they are present at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-vaxxers have now joined up with these right-wing extremists at the anti-lockdown rallies .
It is a natural alliance of sorts because they are all obsessed with conspiracy theories .
One of the defining features of the Patriot movement is conspiracism .
You have talked to people involved in these various right-wing extremist and paramilitary groups and broader movements .
How do the people at these rallies make sense of their claims that they are not “ racist ” or “ violent ” while they are carrying guns , waving Confederate flags , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases displaying signs with Nazi slogans ?
There is a great amount of cognitive dissonance among these people at the coronavirus rallies .
One of my favorite images was that man with the Confederate flag who was wearing a T-shirt that says , “ America , love it or leave it !
” So many of the people at the Michigan rally and elsewhere are enormously confused .
But there are also people at these events who are bloodthirsty for the opportunity to use the pandemic to advance their goals .
They see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opportunity to get out their guns and finally shoot all those liberals that they have wanted to kill for a very long time .
Now , along with the Confederate flags and Nazi regalia and language there is a hidden symbol operating in plain sight for those who understand its meaning and power .
Notice the Hawaiian shirts and the references to something called the “ boogaloo.
” Also notice the “ boogaloo ” flag , which is blue and has an igloo and a palm tree on it .
These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a term meaning the second civil war that the right-wing paramilitaries and other extremists are hoping for and lusting after right now .
These right-wing extremists want to replace America ’ s constitutional democracy with authoritarian right-wing rule .
Online , these right-wing extremists spend a great deal of time talking about the “ boogaloo ” and killing federal law enforcement agents .
They also fantasize about societal breakdown and killing their neighbors for supplies .
These people are very serious about their violence .
This organizing is being done online on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine and has not taken it down .
There are not that many members in these right-wing militias and other extremist groups , but they can create a lot of havoc and hurt and kill many people .
Their “ boogaloo ” fantasy of a second civil war and mass violence has no chance of succeeding , in my opinion .
But their shared fantasies of violence have the potential to cause great harm if acted upon even by a small number of its adherents .
What would the “ boogaloo ” or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurrection look like , if it actually took place ?
“ Anti-government ” is usually code for white supremacy and racism against nonwhites , especially black people .
Obviously the first targets are going to be people of color and LGBT folks .
In this “ boogaloo ” and other right-wing civil war fantasies , those groups would be rounded up and put in concentration camps or otherwise disposed of .
Jews would probably all be assassinated or otherwise killed .
The way that these right-wing extremists talk among themselves is very graphic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are these individuals and groups using the pandemic for their recruitment efforts ?
They have been intensely recruiting among their usual demographic .
They radicalize disaffected young white people — mostly men but not exclusively , of course — by infiltrating every online platform , including the various message boards and forums to YouTube .
They want to radicalize impressionable young people between the ages of 13 and 30 .
The result is that we are seeing a wave of very young Nazis .
How is the pandemic specifically being used in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consists of some story about “ white genocide ” and apocalypse .
They say that there is a plot to commit genocide against white people , white males in particular , and to destroy “ Western civilization.
” This is a plot led by Jewish people who are manipulating immigrants and people of color .
This conspiracy is not really much different from what Nazis and other white supremacists were preaching in the 1920s .
It has just been updated for the social media age with the use of memes , ironic humor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attractive to young people .
Another way that the pandemic is being used by these bad actors is through eco-fascism , where the recruiting is done by talking about how the virus has created cleaner air and animals are taking back the planet from human beings and that nature is healing .
Many of these “ nature is healing ” posts are being spread by some of the most dangerous fascists who believe that human beings have contaminated the Earth and need to be eliminated .
These fascists are pro-genocide and they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate environmental groups such as Extinction Rebellion .
What are these right-wing terrorists waiting for , in terms of beginning their “ boogaloo ” attacks ?
What will the signal be ?
They ’ re waiting for a spark .
It would be something such as an incident where law enforcement decides to finally crack down on right-wing militia , paramilitaries and those in league with them .
In the 1990s these right-wing groups retaliated with truck bombs .
If Donald Trump loses the 2020 presidential election , will that be a signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks against their enemies ?
It is possible that these right-wing extremists and other boogaloo types will attack locations that they believe are vulnerable and will make a difference in their “ civil war.
” One of the wildcards to consider is the ominous presence of Erik Prince , the former head of Blackwater , who is also Betsy DeVos ’ brother , and his private army of mercenaries .
Prince commands a very skilled group of commandos and other ex-military and paramilitary operatives .
Such a group of people could cause great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Donald Trump and the right-wing media have been using stochastic terrorism to encourage violence against Democrats , liberals , progressives , journalists and anyone he or they deem to be an “ enemy.
” On Twitter , Trump actually told the pandemic “ protesters ” to take up arms and force the Michigan state government and others to cease public health measures designed to slow down the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump has been threatening to put Barack Obama and other prominent Democrats in prison for participating in a “ conspiracy ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and journalists “ human scum.
” Where is the outrage from the American people at this vile behavior ?
Are they just numb to it ?
The American people have been conditioned to such language by decades of relentless propaganda from Fox News , the other parts of the right-wing machine , and now Russian bots on social media .
The right-wing echo chamber propaganda machine has normalized that violent language and authoritarianism .
The right-wing media machine is so powerful it has intimidated and cowed networks such as CNN and MSNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth about Trump and the far right ’ s threats of violence .
I have been writing about these dangers for more than 10 years .
People said I was “ alarmist ” back then .
I don ’ t think they would say that about me anymore .
Everything that I have warned about has exactly come true .
In fact , under Trump things are worse than I predicted .
America is at a key turning point right now in terms of surrendering to fascism .
America must decide if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and foul demon of a country by fully surrendering to fascism and Donald Trump in the upcoming election .

What happens this year will be a key turning point on the path from democracy to fascism.
The U.S. government has the official public policy of never negotiating with terrorists, paying them ransom or otherwise surrendering to their demands. The logic is simple: to give in to terrorists is to encourage more violence and other attacks.
It would appear that the state of Michigan does not follow the same policy.
Last Thursday, the Michigan state legislature announced it would not convene because of threats of violence and chaos by armed right-wing militias and other paramilitaries, as previously seen during the recent anti-lockdown protests.
In what could be construed as an act of treason, President Trump recently ordered such paramilitary groups and right-wing thugs to take up arms and to threaten Democratic-led state governments such as Michigan’s in order to force them to “reopen” their state. Such behavior is part of a broader pattern of right-wing terrorism and violence in the United States where armed militias and paramilitaries have allied with the Republican Party in its effort to delegitimize and undermine democracy. Such an alliance is common to failing democracies and rising fascist movements. The example offered by the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler in the 1930s is perhaps the most ominous.
Right-wing terrorism is and will be a future template for Trump and his movement against their perceived or real enemies. White neo-fascist violence, and the threat of such violence have consistently escalated during the Age of Trump.
Matters are now so dire that even The New York Times, which views itself as a neutral “journal of record,” is sounding the alarm about Trump’s armed paramilitary groups. Last Friday, columnist Roger Cohen published an op-ed entitled “The Masked versus the Unmasked” in which he issued this warning:
So much for those resilient checks and balances I lauded to my Colorado neighbor. Back then, in the bygone era, he wrote to me: “No wonder Republicans are laughing at us. The billionaire politicians have complete control (besides the military at this point), no oversight, and most of their constituents are armed, some heavily, and ready to defend them. Roll over and die? What the hell? Time to even things up. To save this country. Hopefully, guns will always be a deterrent, but they may be our last hope to save this country. Time to gun up, liberals!” If you prefer, think of “gun up” as get real, get tough, get registered, get mobilized, get implacable and vote Trump out. Or you may just want to go down to the range.
Ultimately, the upcoming presidential election in November will be a test of the United States’ ability to have a peaceful transfer of power — assuming the election take place, and assuming Trump is somehow defeated, an outcome that seems increasingly unlikely.
How are the anti-lockdown protests in Michigan and elsewhere connected to the history of the Tea Party movement and its network of right-wing plutocrats and other backers? What is the role of white supremacists and other right-wing extremists in Trump’s coronavirus “protests”? How are right-wing militias and other paramilitary groups trying to plan for and incite a second American civil war and armed insurrection — which they call “the boogaloo”? If Donald Trump loses in November, how will these armed militias likely react?
Is Trump actively encouraging right-wing violence through stochastic terrorism? And if so, why aren’t the American people mobilizing against such anti-democratic behavior?
In an effort to answer these questions I recently spoke with investigative journalist David Neiwert, a contributing writer for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Neiwert is also the author of several books, including the recent Alt-America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump, Eliminationists: How Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right and the forthcoming Red Pill, Blue Pill: How to Counteract the Conspiracy Theories That Are Killing Us.
Chauncey DeVega: The anti-lockdown “protests” in Michigan and elsewhere appear to be staged events. In essence they are fake protests which are sponsored and created — just like the Tea Party “movement” from several years ago — by rich conservatives or corporate oligarchs. In a series of recent essays, you have suggested that these events are more complicated than that. Can you explain?
David Neiwert: They are astroturf protests in the same way that the Tea Party movement was put in place by people who have corporate right-wing money as well as the monetary support of very rich families such as that of Betsy DeVos [Trump’s education secretary]. But the “lockdown” protests are a movement that has taken on a life of its own. This has a great deal to do with structure and organization.
The Tea Party initially was backed by right-wing corporations, interest groups and private money, which is why it had so much support from Fox News. But within about six to eight months the Tea Party had its ranks swell with far-right extremists from the Patriot movement. Over the next few years the Tea Party became a conduit for the revival of the Patriot movement, where right-wing extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters became closely associated with the later iterations of the Tea Party.
The full integration of these right-wing extremist militia groups and the Tea Party took some time to happen, but with Trump it is complete. With individuals and groups such as the DeVos family having set up the structure, it is easy for these anti-public health “protests” to spread across the country. The right-wing backers of the Tea Party created their astroturf machine and now it is a type of Frankenstein monster that rampages across the country.
Who are the various elements at these coronavirus rallies? What should the public and the news media really be focusing on?
Nothing about this is that invisible. So much of it is visible. It is a matter of understanding its context.
Men wearing camouflage and carrying guns are not there for the purpose of defending “gun rights.” They are at protests in Michigan and other states to threaten the legislators and the governor. These men with guns are at these protests to threaten anybody who tries to stop them when they go marching into the state house in Michigan. What we saw in Michigan was seditious. If black people had behaved the same way with these guns, wearing camouflage and threatening legislators and the governor, they would have been shot dead by law enforcement.
How do you interpreting the symbols and codes being displayed and shared at these rallies?
Confederate flags were ubiquitous. There was also the Gadsden flag. The latter is now associated with the Tea Party. The Gadsden flag was associated with the right-wing extremist militants in the Patriot movement in the 1990s, and now they are present at these coronavirus protests and gatherings. The anti-vaxxers have now joined up with these right-wing extremists at the anti-lockdown rallies. It is a natural alliance of sorts because they are all obsessed with conspiracy theories. One of the defining features of the Patriot movement is conspiracism.
You have talked to people involved in these various right-wing extremist and paramilitary groups and broader movements. How do the people at these rallies make sense of their claims that they are not “racist” or “violent” while they are carrying guns, waving Confederate flags, wearing other fascist insignia and in several cases displaying signs with Nazi slogans?
There is a great amount of cognitive dissonance among these people at the coronavirus rallies. One of my favorite images was that man with the Confederate flag who was wearing a T-shirt that says, “America, love it or leave it!” So many of the people at the Michigan rally and elsewhere are enormously confused. But there are also people at these events who are bloodthirsty for the opportunity to use the pandemic to advance their goals. They see the pandemic as societal breakdown and therefore an opportunity to get out their guns and finally shoot all those liberals that they have wanted to kill for a very long time.
Now, along with the Confederate flags and Nazi regalia and language there is a hidden symbol operating in plain sight for those who understand its meaning and power. Notice the Hawaiian shirts and the references to something called the “boogaloo.” Also notice the “boogaloo” flag, which is blue and has an igloo and a palm tree on it.
These are references to the “boogaloo,” a term meaning the second civil war that the right-wing paramilitaries and other extremists are hoping for and lusting after right now. These right-wing extremists want to replace America’s constitutional democracy with authoritarian right-wing rule. Online, these right-wing extremists spend a great deal of time talking about the “boogaloo” and killing federal law enforcement agents. They also fantasize about societal breakdown and killing their neighbors for supplies. These people are very serious about their violence.
This organizing is being done online on Facebook and elsewhere. Facebook thinks this is fine and has not taken it down. There are not that many members in these right-wing militias and other extremist groups, but they can create a lot of havoc and hurt and kill many people. Their “boogaloo” fantasy of a second civil war and mass violence has no chance of succeeding, in my opinion. But their shared fantasies of violence have the potential to cause great harm if acted upon even by a small number of its adherents.
What would the “boogaloo” or other acts of right-wing civil war and insurrection look like, if it actually took place? “Anti-government” is usually code for white supremacy and racism against nonwhites, especially black people.
Obviously the first targets are going to be people of color and LGBT folks. In this “boogaloo” and other right-wing civil war fantasies, those groups would be rounded up and put in concentration camps or otherwise disposed of. Jews would probably all be assassinated or otherwise killed. The way that these right-wing extremists talk among themselves is very graphic in terms of the violence.
How are these individuals and groups using the pandemic for their recruitment efforts?
They have been intensely recruiting among their usual demographic. They radicalize disaffected young white people — mostly men but not exclusively, of course — by infiltrating every online platform, including the various message boards and forums to YouTube. They want to radicalize impressionable young people between the ages of 13 and 30. The result is that we are seeing a wave of very young Nazis.
How is the pandemic specifically being used in the recruitment and radicalization process?
It usually consists of some story about “white genocide” and apocalypse. They say that there is a plot to commit genocide against white people, white males in particular, and to destroy “Western civilization.” This is a plot led by Jewish people who are manipulating immigrants and people of color. This conspiracy is not really much different from what Nazis and other white supremacists were preaching in the 1920s. It has just been updated for the social media age with the use of memes, ironic humor and the like. That makes it attractive to young people.
Another way that the pandemic is being used by these bad actors is through eco-fascism, where the recruiting is done by talking about how the virus has created cleaner air and animals are taking back the planet from human beings and that nature is healing. Many of these “nature is healing” posts are being spread by some of the most dangerous fascists who believe that human beings have contaminated the Earth and need to be eliminated. These fascists are pro-genocide and they have been trying to co-opt the logos of legitimate environmental groups such as Extinction Rebellion.
What are these right-wing terrorists waiting for, in terms of beginning their “boogaloo” attacks? What will the signal be?
They’re waiting for a spark. It would be something such as an incident where law enforcement decides to finally crack down on right-wing militia, paramilitaries and those in league with them. In the 1990s these right-wing groups retaliated with truck bombs.
If Donald Trump loses the 2020 presidential election, will that be a signal for right-wing militias and paramilitaries to launch attacks against their enemies?
It is possible that these right-wing extremists and other boogaloo types will attack locations that they believe are vulnerable and will make a difference in their “civil war.” One of the wildcards to consider is the ominous presence of Erik Prince, the former head of Blackwater, who is also Betsy DeVos’ brother, and his private army of mercenaries. Prince commands a very skilled group of commandos and other ex-military and paramilitary operatives. Such a group of people could cause great harm to the country if so ordered.
Donald Trump and the right-wing media have been using stochastic terrorism to encourage violence against Democrats, liberals, progressives, journalists and anyone he or they deem to be an “enemy.” On Twitter, Trump actually told the pandemic “protesters” to take up arms and force the Michigan state government and others to cease public health measures designed to slow down the coronavirus pandemic. Trump has been threatening to put Barack Obama and other prominent Democrats in prison for participating in a “conspiracy” to overthrow him. He continues to call Democrats and journalists “human scum.” Where is the outrage from the American people at this vile behavior? Are they just numb to it?
The American people have been conditioned to such language by decades of relentless propaganda from Fox News, the other parts of the right-wing machine, and now Russian bots on social media. The right-wing echo chamber propaganda machine has normalized that violent language and authoritarianism. The right-wing media machine is so powerful it has intimidated and cowed networks such as CNN and MSNBC. The latter are afraid to tell the truth about Trump and the far right’s threats of violence.
I have been writing about these dangers for more than 10 years. People said I was “alarmist” back then. I don’t think they would say that about me anymore. Everything that I have warned about has exactly come true. In fact, under Trump things are worse than I predicted. America is at a key turning point right now in terms of surrendering to fascism. America must decide if it is going to become a damned and foul demon of a country by fully surrendering to fascism and Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
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truthout--2020-05-18--COVID Deaths in US Approach 100,000 as Trump Administration Misleads Public

There is a lot to keep track of these days , and almost all of it is awful .
Tensions are high at today ’ s World Health Organization ( WHO ) meeting as China and the U.S. growl at each other over Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’ s baseless allegation that COVID-19 emerged from a Wuhan laboratory , and over accusations from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro that China used air travel to “ seed ” COVID around the world .
Navarro went on to blame the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , despite the fact that the CDC acts upon the direction of the Trump administration .
Meanwhile , in an interview with CNN ’ s Jake Tapper on Sunday , Health and Human Services director Alex Azar tried to deflect blame for the country ’ s high COVID-19 death toll away from the Trump administration by seemingly blaming people of color for dying .
When the issue of the disproportionate effect COVID has had on the Black community was raised , Azar began , “ Unfortunately , the American population is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the quiet part loud on network television .
Unfortunately ?
Say no more , Mr. Azar .
You just let the racist cat out of the bigot ’ s bag .
While speaking to Tapper , Azar also let loose one of the more profound lies ever told by a public official not named Donald Trump .
“ We are seeing that in places that are opening , we ’ re not seeing this spike in cases , ” he said .
This is brazenly false .
Texas , Alabama , North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening ” states that have seen definitive , even dramatic increases in COVID cases since the rush to please the money began in earnest .
Azar lied because his boss wants this to be true .
It isn ’ t .
“ The coronavirus pandemic is spreading out from urban centers and increasingly infecting residents in small rural counties , even as some of those areas begin to loosen lockdown requirements aimed at stopping its spread , ” reports The Hill .
“ A new analysis shows nearly three-quarters of Americans live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely.
” These reports are but a portion of the avalanche of bad news we endure today , and every day .
Within this vale of tears lie stacked layers of sorrow .
Many of these new infections are happening in prisons , senior care facilities and meatpacking plants .
Within the walls of these places are the forgotten ones , the ignored and the disdained , the lowest rungs of the American social order .
The confinement of COVID has not spared those who count more in this culture than incarcerated people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plants .
All across the country , instances of domestic violence are on the rise .
Depression , anxiety and other mental ills are a brushfire fed by the freshening winds of grief and solitude .
Millions are going without food , and lack basic health care because their insurance was tied to their employment , and that employment has come to an end .
More than 36 million people have filed for unemployment benefits , while many low-wage laborers face the choice between destitution and infection .
They are called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that label doesn ’ t pay the rent or put dinner on the table .
Food banks across the country are being overwhelmed as people stand in line for hours to receive whatever assistance is available .
It is all entirely overwhelming , a gorging of horror and woe with no true end in sight .
There is no leadership to speak of from the federal government .
Trump has declared victory and washed his hands of the crisis , leaving state and local governments to fend for themselves as he attempts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ reopening ” schedule that will — by the White House ’ s own numbers — cause thousands of additional deaths in the coming weeks and months .
In this maelstrom of dread and slow-rolling agony , amid the ceaseless screaming din of dark tidings and bleak conflict , we must pause to remember the dead .
No one can be blamed for pushing the mortal victims of this calamity to the back rooms of the mind , because it is almost entirely too much to encompass .
The U.S. will surpass 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and there is no earthly reason to believe that pattern will change .
100,000 dead since the New Year , and that number is almost certainly an undercount .
Combine the death tolls from Pearl Harbor , Oklahoma City , September 11 , and the number of U.S. shooting victims from 2019 , and you still fall far short of the butcher ’ s bill from COVID-19 , and the butcher is not nearly finished with us .
With so many of the living doing everything they can simply to hold on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to understand why the incalculable enormity of the agony represented by that six-digit figure is too much to focus on for long .
But when Miguel Moran of Long Island died of COVID , his son Daniel was at his bedside .
Eight days later , Daniel was also dead from COVID .
Miguel was 56 , and Daniel was 23 .
Ruben Burks of Flint , Michigan , was a labor activist and community organizer who spent his retirement protesting the poisoned water supply in his city .
He was 86 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Midland Park , New Jersey , was a nurse for 46 years .
She was days away from retirement when she contracted COVID and died in the same hospital where she once helped others .
She was 65 years old .
Leilani Jordan of Upper Marlboro , Maryland , was a grocery clerk with cerebral palsy who continued to work so she could help the store ’ s elderly customers .
She was 27 when the virus took her life .
Rolando Aravena of New Windsor , New York , was taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenth birthday .
He was 44 years old .
Conrad Buchanan of Fort Myers , Florida , died alone in quarantine in the hospital at age 39 .
His family never got to say goodbye .
Alfredo and Susana Pabatao of Palisades Park , New Jersey , were both health care workers who had been married for 44 years .
They both died of COVID a few days apart in separate hospital rooms .
He was 68 and she was 64 .
There are nearly 100,000 stories like this now , with far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must remember the lost , and not let their passing become another body count like all the other ones this nation has grown far too accustomed to ignoring .
We are in sorrow .
We are in pain .
We are alive , and they are not .
Amid the agony and fear , we must remember them .

We must not let this become another body count like all the others this nation has grown far too accustomed to ignoring.
Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
There is a lot to keep track of these days, and almost all of it is awful.
Tensions are high at today’s World Health Organization (WHO) meeting as China and the U.S. growl at each other over Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s baseless allegation that COVID-19 emerged from a Wuhan laboratory, and over accusations from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro that China used air travel to “seed” COVID around the world. Navarro went on to blame the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the monstrous spread of the virus in the U.S., despite the fact that the CDC acts upon the direction of the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday, Health and Human Services director Alex Azar tried to deflect blame for the country’s high COVID-19 death toll away from the Trump administration by seemingly blaming people of color for dying. When the issue of the disproportionate effect COVID has had on the Black community was raised, Azar began, “Unfortunately, the American population is a very diverse…” before retreating from saying the quiet part loud on network television. Unfortunately? Say no more, Mr. Azar. You just let the racist cat out of the bigot’s bag.
While speaking to Tapper, Azar also let loose one of the more profound lies ever told by a public official not named Donald Trump. “We are seeing that in places that are opening, we’re not seeing this spike in cases,” he said. This is brazenly false. Texas, Alabama, North Dakota and Wisconsin are among several “reopening” states that have seen definitive, even dramatic increases in COVID cases since the rush to please the money began in earnest.
Azar lied because his boss wants this to be true. It isn’t. “The coronavirus pandemic is spreading out from urban centers and increasingly infecting residents in small rural counties, even as some of those areas begin to loosen lockdown requirements aimed at stopping its spread,” reports The Hill. “A new analysis shows nearly three-quarters of Americans live in counties where the virus is now spreading widely.”
These reports are but a portion of the avalanche of bad news we endure today, and every day. Within this vale of tears lie stacked layers of sorrow. Many of these new infections are happening in prisons, senior care facilities and meatpacking plants. Within the walls of these places are the forgotten ones, the ignored and the disdained, the lowest rungs of the American social order.
The confinement of COVID has not spared those who count more in this culture than incarcerated people, the elderly and immigrant laborers in the plants. All across the country, instances of domestic violence are on the rise. Depression, anxiety and other mental ills are a brushfire fed by the freshening winds of grief and solitude.
The U.S. will surpass 100,000 deaths before June if the pattern holds.
Millions are going without food, and lack basic health care because their insurance was tied to their employment, and that employment has come to an end. More than 36 million people have filed for unemployment benefits, while many low-wage laborers face the choice between destitution and infection. They are called “heroes” in the media, but that label doesn’t pay the rent or put dinner on the table. Food banks across the country are being overwhelmed as people stand in line for hours to receive whatever assistance is available.
It is all entirely overwhelming, a gorging of horror and woe with no true end in sight. There is no leadership to speak of from the federal government. Trump has declared victory and washed his hands of the crisis, leaving state and local governments to fend for themselves as he attempts to cheerlead a reluctant country into a breakneck “reopening” schedule that will — by the White House’s own numbers — cause thousands of additional deaths in the coming weeks and months.
In this maelstrom of dread and slow-rolling agony, amid the ceaseless screaming din of dark tidings and bleak conflict, we must pause to remember the dead.
No one can be blamed for pushing the mortal victims of this calamity to the back rooms of the mind, because it is almost entirely too much to encompass. The U.S. will surpass 100,000 deaths before June if the pattern holds, and there is no earthly reason to believe that pattern will change.
100,000 dead since the New Year, and that number is almost certainly an undercount. Combine the death tolls from Pearl Harbor, Oklahoma City, September 11, and the number of U.S. shooting victims from 2019, and you still fall far short of the butcher’s bill from COVID-19, and the butcher is not nearly finished with us.
We must remember the lost, and not let their passing become another body count like all the other ones this nation has grown far too accustomed to ignoring.
With so many of the living doing everything they can simply to hold on by their fingernails, it is easy enough to understand why the incalculable enormity of the agony represented by that six-digit figure is too much to focus on for long.
But when Miguel Moran of Long Island died of COVID, his son Daniel was at his bedside. Eight days later, Daniel was also dead from COVID. Miguel was 56, and Daniel was 23.
Ruben Burks of Flint, Michigan, was a labor activist and community organizer who spent his retirement protesting the poisoned water supply in his city. He was 86 when COVID took him.
Barbara Birchenough of Midland Park, New Jersey, was a nurse for 46 years. She was days away from retirement when she contracted COVID and died in the same hospital where she once helped others. She was 65 years old.
Leilani Jordan of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was a grocery clerk with cerebral palsy who continued to work so she could help the store’s elderly customers. She was 27 when the virus took her life.
Rolando Aravena of New Windsor, New York, was taken by COVID on his twin daughters’ tenth birthday. He was 44 years old.
Conrad Buchanan of Fort Myers, Florida, died alone in quarantine in the hospital at age 39. His family never got to say goodbye.
Alfredo and Susana Pabatao of Palisades Park, New Jersey, were both health care workers who had been married for 44 years. They both died of COVID a few days apart in separate hospital rooms. He was 68 and she was 64.
There are nearly 100,000 stories like this now, with far too many more to come.
We must remember the lost, and not let their passing become another body count like all the other ones this nation has grown far too accustomed to ignoring.
We are in sorrow. We are in pain. We are alive, and they are not. Amid the agony and fear, we must remember them.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
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truthout--2020-05-18--House Democrats Demand State Dept. Reveal “Secret Plan” to Slash Social Security

House Democrats are demanding that the Trump administration turn over to Congress all documents related to an internal State Department plan that reportedly proposes giving Americans direct cash payments in exchange for cuts to their Social Security benefits , an idea advocacy groups denounced as “ monstrous.
” In a letter ( pdf ) sent late last week to Keith Krach — Under Secretary for Economic Growth , Energy , and the Environment at the State Department — Reps. Joaquin Castro ( D-Texas ) and John Larson ( D-Conn. ) called on the administration to release in full the so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which was first reported last week by the Washington Post .
“ In this moment of crisis , when millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet and fear for their retirement , we should be enhancing Social Security , not developing policies to reduce benefits , ” the lawmakers wrote .
“ The idea that you would ask individual Americans to sell out their hard-earned retirement security as the price of desperately-needed help during a crisis is unacceptable.
” The Post reported that the “ Eagle Plan ” was written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Krach , and forwarded to the White House Council of Economic Advisers by President Donald Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner .
In a statement , Castro characterized the internal State Department proposal as “ a secret plan to cut hard-earned Social Security benefits.
” “ This should not be a surprise after earlier this year in Davos when President Trump said , ‘ At the right time , we will take a look at that , ' ” Castro said .
“ Jeopardizing retirement security during a health and economic crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ right time ’ — we should only be strengthening Social Security.
” Larson , who has proposed an emergency expansion of Social Security benefits during the coronavirus crisis , echoed Castro , saying “ the idea that we would ask Americans to sell out their retirement and long-term security for assistance during a crisis is insane.
” “ Social Security is here for Americans for times exactly like the ones we face today , ” said Larson .
“ It is time we strengthen it .
This attempt is ludicrous.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eagle Plan ” is one of two proposals to cut Social Security that senior White House officials have considered in recent days as the administration and congressional Republicans claim to be concerned about the rising deficit .
Progressives have warned that the GOP ’ s renewed deficit hawkery is a cynical ploy to justify gutting safety net programs .
Alex Lawson , executive director of advocacy group Social Security Works , said in a statement last week that the “ Eagle Plan ” would “ force people to choose : Go hungry today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump administration is obsessed with using the coronavirus crisis to undermine our Social Security system , ” said Lawson .
“ Social Security is an earned insurance benefit .
It is not a piggy bank.
” “ This plan , and any plan that raids Social Security , is a moral abomination , ” Lawson added .
“ Instead of trying to steal the earned benefits of desperate people , the government should be sending $ 2,000 a month to everyone in America , as Democrats in Congress have proposed .
”

House Democrats are demanding that the Trump administration turn over to Congress all documents related to an internal State Department plan that reportedly proposes giving Americans direct cash payments in exchange for cuts to their Social Security benefits, an idea advocacy groups denounced as “monstrous.”
In a letter (pdf) sent late last week to Keith Krach — Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the State Department — Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) and John Larson (D-Conn.) called on the administration to release in full the so-called “Eagle Plan,” the existence of which was first reported last week by the Washington Post.
“In this moment of crisis, when millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet and fear for their retirement, we should be enhancing Social Security, not developing policies to reduce benefits,” the lawmakers wrote. “The idea that you would ask individual Americans to sell out their hard-earned retirement security as the price of desperately-needed help during a crisis is unacceptable.”
The Post reported that the “Eagle Plan” was written by Paul Touw, chief strategy officer to Krach, and forwarded to the White House Council of Economic Advisers by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
In a statement, Castro characterized the internal State Department proposal as “a secret plan to cut hard-earned Social Security benefits.”
“This should not be a surprise after earlier this year in Davos when President Trump said, ‘At the right time, we will take a look at that,'” Castro said. “Jeopardizing retirement security during a health and economic crisis that disproportionally impacts older Americans is not the ‘right time’ — we should only be strengthening Social Security.”
Larson, who has proposed an emergency expansion of Social Security benefits during the coronavirus crisis, echoed Castro, saying “the idea that we would ask Americans to sell out their retirement and long-term security for assistance during a crisis is insane.”
“Social Security is here for Americans for times exactly like the ones we face today,” said Larson. “It is time we strengthen it. This attempt is ludicrous.”
.@JoaquinCastroTx & I are urging the Trump Administration to turn over all documents & information involved in their plan to cut Social Security. Social Security is here for Americans for times exactly like the one we face today. We need to strengthen it. https://t.co/5RUx5k6G0l — Rep. John Larson (@RepJohnLarson) May 15, 2020
According to the Post, the “Eagle Plan” is one of two proposals to cut Social Security that senior White House officials have considered in recent days as the administration and congressional Republicans claim to be concerned about the rising deficit. Progressives have warned that the GOP’s renewed deficit hawkery is a cynical ploy to justify gutting safety net programs.
Alex Lawson, executive director of advocacy group Social Security Works, said in a statement last week that the “Eagle Plan” would “force people to choose: Go hungry today or work until you die.”
“The Trump administration is obsessed with using the coronavirus crisis to undermine our Social Security system,” said Lawson. “Social Security is an earned insurance benefit. It is not a piggy bank.”
“This plan, and any plan that raids Social Security, is a moral abomination,” Lawson added. “Instead of trying to steal the earned benefits of desperate people, the government should be sending $2,000 a month to everyone in America, as Democrats in Congress have proposed.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


truthout--2020-05-18--Fired Inspector General Was Looking Into Pompeo’s Personal Use of Public Funds

A State Department whistleblower who was fired on Friday evening had been looking into whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had abused his powers of office by ordering department employees to carry out personal tasks for him — including walking his dog , picking up his dry-cleaning , and making dinner reservations for his wife and himself , among other errands .
House officials received information about Inspector General Steve Linick ’ s firing following his sudden removal from the State Department late last week .
President Donald Trump , in explaining Linick ’ s termination , said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the appointees serving as Inspectors General , ” implying that Linick had lost his trust .
Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill , including members of the Republican Party , were skeptical of Trump ’ s rationale .
Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , who serves as co-chair of the Whistleblower Protection Caucus in Congress , decried the president ’ s explanation .
“ A general lack of confidence is simply not sufficient ” grounds for firing an inspector general , Grassley said .
Beyond being demonstrative of using his office in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for personal business — Pompeo ’ s actions in recommending Linick ’ s firing to Trump may also be illegal for other reasons .
According to U.S. statutes on obstruction of justice , any official who attempts to “ influence , obstruct , or impede the due and proper administration of the law ” is guilty of the crime .
That includes firing officials if doing so is an attempt to impede an investigation they were conducting .
It ’ s possible that the current investigation into Pompeo ’ s alleged abuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the same amount of scrutiny , now that Linick is out : The departing inspector general is being replaced by Stephen Akard , an individual considered to be a strong ally of Vice President Mike Pence .
Linick himself was viewed as a nonpartisan official , serving in executive department roles across three different presidential administrations , two of which were Republican .
Linick filed the May 2016 report that was highly critical of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her email use while she served in the Obama administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for personal reasons has been looked at in the past .
Last summer , a separate whistleblower complaint suggested he had engaged in similar behavior , and in October , questions over whether his travels to Kansas , using State Department aircraft , were appropriate were raised , as Pompeo had been considering a run for Senate in that state around that time .
On Sunday , while appearing on CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation , ” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi discussed the legality of the controversial firing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire any federal employee .
But the fact is , if it looks like it is in retaliation for something that the IG , the inspector general , is doing , that could be unlawful , ” Pelosi said .

Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle blasted the firing of Inspector General Steve Linick late last Friday.
A State Department whistleblower who was fired on Friday evening had been looking into whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had abused his powers of office by ordering department employees to carry out personal tasks for him — including walking his dog, picking up his dry-cleaning, and making dinner reservations for his wife and himself, among other errands.
House officials received information about Inspector General Steve Linick’s firing following his sudden removal from the State Department late last week. President Donald Trump, in explaining Linick’s termination, said it was necessary to have “the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General,” implying that Linick had lost his trust.
Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including members of the Republican Party, were skeptical of Trump’s rationale. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who serves as co-chair of the Whistleblower Protection Caucus in Congress, decried the president’s explanation.
“A general lack of confidence is simply not sufficient” grounds for firing an inspector general, Grassley said.
Beyond being demonstrative of using his office in an inappropriate manner — utilizing taxpayer funds for personal business — Pompeo’s actions in recommending Linick’s firing to Trump may also be illegal for other reasons. According to U.S. statutes on obstruction of justice, any official who attempts to “influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law” is guilty of the crime. That includes firing officials if doing so is an attempt to impede an investigation they were conducting.
It’s possible that the current investigation into Pompeo’s alleged abuse of power won’t be looked at with the same amount of scrutiny, now that Linick is out: The departing inspector general is being replaced by Stephen Akard, an individual considered to be a strong ally of Vice President Mike Pence.
Linick himself was viewed as a nonpartisan official, serving in executive department roles across three different presidential administrations, two of which were Republican. Linick filed the May 2016 report that was highly critical of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her email use while she served in the Obama administration.
Pompeo’s use of his office for personal reasons has been looked at in the past. Last summer, a separate whistleblower complaint suggested he had engaged in similar behavior, and in October, questions over whether his travels to Kansas, using State Department aircraft, were appropriate were raised, as Pompeo had been considering a run for Senate in that state around that time.
On Sunday, while appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi discussed the legality of the controversial firing.
“The president has the right to fire any federal employee. But the fact is, if it looks like it is in retaliation for something that the IG, the inspector general, is doing, that could be unlawful,” Pelosi said.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-05-18--New Postmaster General’s Focus on Modernization Likely Means Job Losses at USPS

Much of the criticism of new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has centered on his $ 2 million in contributions to the Trump campaign and other Republican causes since 2016 .
DeJoy is in charge of fundraising for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte .
These facts are cause for worry , but postal workers should be even more alarmed at his 35 years ’ experience in labor analytics — the art of eliminating as many jobs as possible .
His company has a terrible labor record , rife with red flags including sexual harassment , discrimination , speedup , workplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misclassifying workers as independent contractors , and inadequate sick leave during the current pandemic .
DeJoy , whose term begins June 15 , is only the fifth postmaster general since 1971 not to come from within the U.S .
Postal Service bureaucracy .
His experience in supply chain logistics was clearly a factor in his appointment .
DeJoy ’ s New Breed Logistics ( before it merged with XPO ) was a contractor to the USPS for more than 25 years , “ supplying the organization with logistics support for multiple processing facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ XPO Logistics does extensive business with the Postal Service ( $ 57 million in 2017 ) , potentially putting DeJoy in the position of overseeing decisions that affect his personal financial interests .
He served terms as XPO ’ s CEO and board member before retiring in 2018 ; the company continues to rent warehouse space from him , and he and his wife own between $ 25 million and $ 50 million in XPO stock .
The funding that the postal board of governors is asking from Congress includes $ 25 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s version of modernization look like ?
Take a look at the website of XPO : “ Our focus is on robotics , autonomous vehicles , automated sortation systems , drones and other cutting-edge technologies that speed goods through the supply chain… .
Once startup is complete , our managers use XPO Smart™ labor analytics to optimize productivity.
” In other words , the company specializes in the science of weeding out any worker who ’ s not super-productive and super-compliant , regardless of seniority or humanity .
We can expect DeJoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the postal service .
Postal workers have experienced “ modernization ” before .
Every wave of technological innovation since the 1980s has eliminated some jobs and made other jobs more difficult .
For instance , it used to be that each day a letter carrier would spend a few hours putting the mail in delivery order before going out on the route .
Now most of the sequencing is automated .
This technological advance should have made the job easier .
Why not accomplish the same work , for the same pay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead , management has used it to make the work harder — eliminating many jobs and forcing the remaining carriers to cover much larger routes .
Letter carrying became much more stressful .
Not surprisingly , DeJoy has a bad labor record .
While he was CEO , New Breed acted with “ anti-union animus , ” the National Labor Relations Board ruled in 1994 , when it avoided hiring Longshore ( ILWU ) union members after securing a contract to run a U.S. Army terminal in Compton , California .
In 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to three temp warehouse workers at New Breed in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit .
The workers had been fired for complaining about a manager ’ s “ unwelcome sexual touching and lewd , obscene and vulgar sexual remarks.
” The employee handbook , which had sexual harassment protocols , was purposefully kept out of the hands of temps — who made up 80 percent of the workforce .
In 2014 , the New York Times reported , four women working in a Memphis warehouse for New Breed suffered miscarriages after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during their pregnancies .
Workers hoped that conditions would improve when XPO took over , but instead things got even worse — workers were now expected to pack 120 boxes per hour instead of 60 , and got punished for too-long bathroom breaks .
In 2017 , a woman died of cardiac arrest on the warehouse floor , and workers around her were told to keep working .
In 2018 , two more women miscarried .
Since 2000 , XPO and its subsidiaries have racked up 16 wage-and-hour violations totaling $ 35 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times for employment discrimination , five times for labor relations , eight times for aviation safety , and 22 times for health and safety .
( You can search a database of such violations for any company using the online Violation Tracker run by the policy resource center Good Jobs First . )
The state of California has repeatedly awarded back wages to XPO truck drivers who were misclassified as independent contractors .
Truck drivers , warehouse workers , and intermodal drivers at hundreds of XPO facilities worldwide held a day of protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses and wage theft .
U.S. efforts were coordinated by the Teamsters , who have managed to organize a handful of XPO units ; a warehouse in New Haven went on strike .
“ As someone who drives from Tijuana , Mexico to San Diego every single day to work more than 12 hours , ” said driver Jose ‘ Chema ’ Rodriguez , “ it ’ s ludicrous that I ’ m still unable to afford to live in the United States because of the compensation and benefits XPO has denied me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractor.
’ ” When the pandemic hit , the New York Times reported that XPO offered to “ lend ” workers up 100 hours of time off — but they would have to repay the time .
The result of this stingy sick-leave policy : workers kept going into work despite “ coughs and worse.
” A Miami truck driver told the paper that even if he got coronavirus , he would have to keep driving his 18-wheeler .
On April 4 , workers walked out of an XPO warehouse in Palmyra , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after three workers became infected .
( See a video of the walkout here . )
Already the pandemic has caused the deaths of more than 50 postal workers and more than 85,000 people in the U.S. , disproportionately people of color and the elderly .
Thousands of postal workers have been sickened or have had to self-quarantine .
We ’ re in a struggle to save the postal service , during a presidential administration that is openly hostile to its existence .
The threat to postal jobs and benefits comes at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 33 million new unemployment claims since late March .
Perhaps one-third of the U.S. workforce has become jobless ; many may never get their jobs back .
The 38 percent turnover rate among non-career employees at the USPS in 2018-19 is likely to decrease now .
Workers in these second-tier , permatemp positions ( mail handler assistants , postal support employees , city carrier assistants and rural carrier associates ) may be unwilling to quit — despite inflexible schedules , arrogant supervisors , the physical demands of the work , and working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People will be desperate to feed and house their families .
Front-line supervisors may become even more obnoxious , not just for temps but for all workers .
But if workers can ’ t walk away from the job , they might be more willing to fight for their rights on the job — much like workers during the great postal strike of 1970 .
The postal workforce at that time included many veterans newly returned from the Vietnam War , who came back angry — veterans were extremely against the war — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights movement .
The rebellious spirit of the times fed into the rebellion in the post office .
After the last few years of teacher strikes , Black Lives Matter protests , and the Me Too movement , I ’ m hoping such a spirit is percolating again .
New book from Labor Notes : Secrets of a Successful Organizer is a step-by-step guide to building power on the job .
“ Full of so many creative examples and powerful rank-and-file stories , it makes you want to dive right in.
” Buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Much of the criticism of new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has centered on his $2 million in contributions to the Trump campaign and other Republican causes since 2016. DeJoy is in charge of fundraising for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte.
These facts are cause for worry, but postal workers should be even more alarmed at his 35 years’ experience in labor analytics — the art of eliminating as many jobs as possible.
His company has a terrible labor record, rife with red flags including sexual harassment, discrimination, speedup, workplace injuries, excessive use of temps, misclassifying workers as independent contractors, and inadequate sick leave during the current pandemic.
Robots Please
DeJoy, whose term begins June 15, is only the fifth postmaster general since 1971 not to come from within the U.S. Postal Service bureaucracy. His experience in supply chain logistics was clearly a factor in his appointment.
DeJoy’s New Breed Logistics (before it merged with XPO) was a contractor to the USPS for more than 25 years, “supplying the organization with logistics support for multiple processing facilities,” the USPS announcement revealed.
XPO Logistics does extensive business with the Postal Service ($57 million in 2017), potentially putting DeJoy in the position of overseeing decisions that affect his personal financial interests. He served terms as XPO’s CEO and board member before retiring in 2018; the company continues to rent warehouse space from him, and he and his wife own between $25 million and $50 million in XPO stock.
The funding that the postal board of governors is asking from Congress includes $25 billion for “modernization.” What might DeJoy’s version of modernization look like? Take a look at the website of XPO: “Our focus is on robotics, autonomous vehicles, automated sortation systems, drones and other cutting-edge technologies that speed goods through the supply chain…. Once startup is complete, our managers use XPO Smart™ labor analytics to optimize productivity.”
In other words, the company specializes in the science of weeding out any worker who’s not super-productive and super-compliant, regardless of seniority or humanity. We can expect DeJoy to bring this same sensibility to running the postal service.
Postal workers have experienced “modernization” before. Every wave of technological innovation since the 1980s has eliminated some jobs and made other jobs more difficult.
For instance, it used to be that each day a letter carrier would spend a few hours putting the mail in delivery order before going out on the route. Now most of the sequencing is automated.
This technological advance should have made the job easier. Why not accomplish the same work, for the same pay, with less time and effort? But instead, management has used it to make the work harder — eliminating many jobs and forcing the remaining carriers to cover much larger routes. Letter carrying became much more stressful.
“Anti-Union Animus”
Not surprisingly, DeJoy has a bad labor record. While he was CEO, New Breed acted with “anti-union animus,” the National Labor Relations Board ruled in 1994, when it avoided hiring Longshore (ILWU) union members after securing a contract to run a U.S. Army terminal in Compton, California.
In 2013, a Tennessee jury awarded $1.5 million to three temp warehouse workers at New Breed in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit. The workers had been fired for complaining about a manager’s “unwelcome sexual touching and lewd, obscene and vulgar sexual remarks.” The employee handbook, which had sexual harassment protocols, was purposefully kept out of the hands of temps — who made up 80 percent of the workforce.
In 2014, the New York Times reported, four women working in a Memphis warehouse for New Breed suffered miscarriages after supervisors refused their requests for light duty during their pregnancies. Workers hoped that conditions would improve when XPO took over, but instead things got even worse — workers were now expected to pack 120 boxes per hour instead of 60, and got punished for too-long bathroom breaks. In 2017, a woman died of cardiac arrest on the warehouse floor, and workers around her were told to keep working. In 2018, two more women miscarried.
Since 2000, XPO and its subsidiaries have racked up 16 wage-and-hour violations totaling $35 million. They have also been dinged six times for employment discrimination, five times for labor relations, eight times for aviation safety, and 22 times for health and safety. (You can search a database of such violations for any company using the online Violation Tracker run by the policy resource center Good Jobs First.) The state of California has repeatedly awarded back wages to XPO truck drivers who were misclassified as independent contractors.
Truck drivers, warehouse workers, and intermodal drivers at hundreds of XPO facilities worldwide held a day of protests on May 30, 2019, against abuses and wage theft. U.S. efforts were coordinated by the Teamsters, who have managed to organize a handful of XPO units; a warehouse in New Haven went on strike. “As someone who drives from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego every single day to work more than 12 hours,” said driver Jose ‘Chema’ Rodriguez, “it’s ludicrous that I’m still unable to afford to live in the United States because of the compensation and benefits XPO has denied me by misclassifying me as an ‘independent contractor.’”
When the pandemic hit, the New York Times reported that XPO offered to “lend” workers up 100 hours of time off — but they would have to repay the time. The result of this stingy sick-leave policy: workers kept going into work despite “coughs and worse.” A Miami truck driver told the paper that even if he got coronavirus, he would have to keep driving his 18-wheeler. On April 4, workers walked out of an XPO warehouse in Palmyra, New Jersey, over COVID-19 concerns, after three workers became infected. (See a video of the walkout here.)
Time to Fight
Already the pandemic has caused the deaths of more than 50 postal workers and more than 85,000 people in the U.S., disproportionately people of color and the elderly. Thousands of postal workers have been sickened or have had to self-quarantine.
We’re in a struggle to save the postal service, during a presidential administration that is openly hostile to its existence. The threat to postal jobs and benefits comes at a time of historic unemployment, with more than 33 million new unemployment claims since late March. Perhaps one-third of the U.S. workforce has become jobless; many may never get their jobs back.
The 38 percent turnover rate among non-career employees at the USPS in 2018-19 is likely to decrease now. Workers in these second-tier, permatemp positions (mail handler assistants, postal support employees, city carrier assistants and rural carrier associates) may be unwilling to quit — despite inflexible schedules, arrogant supervisors, the physical demands of the work, and working too many or too few hours. People will be desperate to feed and house their families. Front-line supervisors may become even more obnoxious, not just for temps but for all workers.
But if workers can’t walk away from the job, they might be more willing to fight for their rights on the job — much like workers during the great postal strike of 1970. The postal workforce at that time included many veterans newly returned from the Vietnam War, who came back angry — veterans were extremely against the war — and Black workers inspired by the civil rights movement. The rebellious spirit of the times fed into the rebellion in the post office. After the last few years of teacher strikes, Black Lives Matter protests, and the Me Too movement, I’m hoping such a spirit is percolating again.
New book from Labor Notes: Secrets of a Successful Organizer is a step-by-step guide to building power on the job. “Full of so many creative examples and powerful rank-and-file stories, it makes you want to dive right in.” Buy one today, only $15.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
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truthout--2020-05-18--Imagine a World Where All Workers Are “Essential,” But Not All Leaders Are

Among the myriad contradictions revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic , one of the most suggestive is the difference between “ essential ” and “ nonessential ” workers and the work they do .
While there seem to be significant differences about who falls into which group , what ’ s interesting is the apparent ease with which most people take the categories themselves for granted .
What makes it possible — at least under the admittedly exigent circumstances of the pandemic — for millions ( or billions on a global scale ) of workers to be informed that what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suddenly be forgone ?
What does this say about how these millions actually spend their time ?
In his 2018 book , Bullshit Jobs : A Theory , American anthropologist David Graeber asserts that over half of all jobs are meaningless , pointless and psychologically damaging .
Even though we might disagree on the precise proportion , it is difficult to argue with the main point : Most of us perform work that leaves us feeling utterly empty , a phenomenon that the pandemic is illustrating with a vengeance .
What is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the loss of even these “ bullshit ” jobs comes with a heavy cost to individuals , families , communities and larger economies .
Around the globe , most people have little choice for surviving except by renting themselves as wage slaves to those willing to shell out coin for their labor power .
Once rented , these workers have virtually no say in the kind of work they will do during their contracted rental time .
Those decisions — about what to produce , how to produce it , what to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the renter , the capitalist .
And , of course , the only thing driving these decisions is the maximization of profit , shareholder “ value ” and personal aggrandizement .
It doesn ’ t matter , except incidentally , whether the products ( goods or services ) are worthwhile as long as they can eventually be sold .
Equally , and as the pandemic has also highlighted , it doesn ’ t much matter what conditions workers face in carrying out the essential tasks of maximizing profit , shareholder value and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this line of thought is to examine the role of our current so-called leaders in both government and business before , during and “ after ” the pandemic .
Given the widespread glaring greed , ineptitude , callousness and gratuitous cruelty which has characterized the more typical lack of preparedness and the subsequent response to the pandemic , it is an opportune time to think about how essential these “ leaders ” really are .
In the arguments for “ opening up the economy , ” how can sentiments like President ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” his insistence that “ We have to be warriors , ” or Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s quip that “ Everyone will die someday ” be interpreted as anything but evil ?
How ridiculous is it to keep letting people like these oversee how most of us “ spend ” ( and the term is used deliberately ) our lives ?
We might also speculate here for just a moment about the kinds of profit-maximizing decisions that have increased the likelihood of such pandemics at all .
In pursuit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuel-based capitalism has accelerated the climate catastrophe , which , among other effects , has fostered more frequent and closer contacts between virus-carrying species and humans , which in turn has heightened the possibilities for zoonotic contagion .
In addition , this phase of capitalism has developed extensive globalized commodity chains and international commerce that virtually guarantee rapid and widespread transmission .
In contrast , we wonder how these arrangements might look if workers were actually in control of these processes .
What would work consist of if decisions about what to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what to do with the goods and services were based on criteria that were communally and democratically determined ?
If such decisions were based on what people need and want , rather than on profit maximization ( the possibilities of which have also been unveiled , at least inadvertently , by the exigencies of the pandemic ) , these processes would look dramatically different .
Under such circumstances , all work and all workers , by definition , would be essential .
Rather than just providing means for subsistence , work ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would provide dignity and fulfilment .
Work would cease to be a means to somebody else ’ s ends .
Work would no longer be a bunch of “ bullshit.
” If that were the case , what would the preparation for and response to the pandemic have looked like ?
What decisions would be made if the people who are most likely to have to bear the consequences were in charge ?
What kinds of work would be deemed as vital , necessary and urgent under these unusual circumstances ?
And for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers be facing the wrenching choices of life or livelihood posed by unsafe workplaces ?
Would workers be begging uncaring employers for necessary protective equipment , appropriate social distancing , paid sick and family leave , health care , hazard pay ( not to mention a living wage under “ normal ” circumstances ) and unemployment compensation ?
What would rescue packages look like ?
How “ essential ” are the giant financial institutions , fulfilment centers , or the cruise , hotel , airline and fossil fuel industries — and by extension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why , to pick just one egregious example , when Jeff Bezos ’ s personal fortune has increased by more than $ 24 billion since the beginning of the pandemic , should workers in his warehouses ( Amazon ) and grocery stores ( Whole Foods ) have to stage wildcat strikes just to survive ?
How much of the U.S. bailouts would have gone to these nonessentials rather than to those who really are ( or could be ) essential to a humanely functioning society ?
Rather than a return to dysfunctional “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment when the fundamental categories of “ essential ” and “ nonessential ” work and workers should be thoroughly rethought and recast .
When the existing arrangements have produced such dire conditions for so many , it is high time for the majority to systematically and strategically withhold our labor , our consumption and our consent to this genocidal machine .
It is urgent that we move beyond its barbarism to a set of arrangements that prioritizes our humanity , our planet and our future .

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
Among the myriad contradictions revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most suggestive is the difference between “essential” and “nonessential” workers and the work they do. While there seem to be significant differences about who falls into which group, what’s interesting is the apparent ease with which most people take the categories themselves for granted. What makes it possible — at least under the admittedly exigent circumstances of the pandemic — for millions (or billions on a global scale) of workers to be informed that what they do day in and day out can suddenly be forgone? What does this say about how these millions actually spend their time?
In his 2018 book, Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, American anthropologist David Graeber asserts that over half of all jobs are meaningless, pointless and psychologically damaging. Even though we might disagree on the precise proportion, it is difficult to argue with the main point: Most of us perform work that leaves us feeling utterly empty, a phenomenon that the pandemic is illustrating with a vengeance. What is also made crystal clear by the pandemic is that the loss of even these “bullshit” jobs comes with a heavy cost to individuals, families, communities and larger economies.
Around the globe, most people have little choice for surviving except by renting themselves as wage slaves to those willing to shell out coin for their labor power. Once rented, these workers have virtually no say in the kind of work they will do during their contracted rental time. Those decisions — about what to produce, how to produce it, what to do with products — are all made by the renter, the capitalist. And, of course, the only thing driving these decisions is the maximization of profit, shareholder “value” and personal aggrandizement. It doesn’t matter, except incidentally, whether the products (goods or services) are worthwhile as long as they can eventually be sold. Equally, and as the pandemic has also highlighted, it doesn’t much matter what conditions workers face in carrying out the essential tasks of maximizing profit, shareholder value and capitalists’ enrichment.
A logical extension of this line of thought is to examine the role of our current so-called leaders in both government and business before, during and “after” the pandemic. Given the widespread glaring greed, ineptitude, callousness and gratuitous cruelty which has characterized the more typical lack of preparedness and the subsequent response to the pandemic, it is an opportune time to think about how essential these “leaders” really are. In the arguments for “opening up the economy,” how can sentiments like President’s Trump’s “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” his insistence that “We have to be warriors,” or Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s quip that “Everyone will die someday” be interpreted as anything but evil? How ridiculous is it to keep letting people like these oversee how most of us “spend” (and the term is used deliberately) our lives?
We might also speculate here for just a moment about the kinds of profit-maximizing decisions that have increased the likelihood of such pandemics at all. In pursuit of cheaper resources and labor, neoliberal and fossil fuel-based capitalism has accelerated the climate catastrophe, which, among other effects, has fostered more frequent and closer contacts between virus-carrying species and humans, which in turn has heightened the possibilities for zoonotic contagion. In addition, this phase of capitalism has developed extensive globalized commodity chains and international commerce that virtually guarantee rapid and widespread transmission.
In contrast, we wonder how these arrangements might look if workers were actually in control of these processes. What would work consist of if decisions about what to produce, how to produce it, and what to do with the goods and services were based on criteria that were communally and democratically determined? If such decisions were based on what people need and want, rather than on profit maximization (the possibilities of which have also been unveiled, at least inadvertently, by the exigencies of the pandemic), these processes would look dramatically different. Under such circumstances, all work and all workers, by definition, would be essential. Rather than just providing means for subsistence, work (as opposed to traditional waged labor) would provide dignity and fulfilment. Work would cease to be a means to somebody else’s ends. Work would no longer be a bunch of “bullshit.”
Given the widespread glaring greed, ineptitude, callousness and gratuitous cruelty, it is an opportune time to think about how essential these “leaders” really are.
If that were the case, what would the preparation for and response to the pandemic have looked like? What decisions would be made if the people who are most likely to have to bear the consequences were in charge? What kinds of work would be deemed as vital, necessary and urgent under these unusual circumstances? And for work that met these criteria, would workers be facing the wrenching choices of life or livelihood posed by unsafe workplaces? Would workers be begging uncaring employers for necessary protective equipment, appropriate social distancing, paid sick and family leave, health care, hazard pay (not to mention a living wage under “normal” circumstances) and unemployment compensation?
What would rescue packages look like? How “essential” are the giant financial institutions, fulfilment centers, or the cruise, hotel, airline and fossil fuel industries — and by extension, the CEOs who run them? Why, to pick just one egregious example, when Jeff Bezos’s personal fortune has increased by more than $24 billion since the beginning of the pandemic, should workers in his warehouses (Amazon) and grocery stores (Whole Foods) have to stage wildcat strikes just to survive? How much of the U.S. bailouts would have gone to these nonessentials rather than to those who really are (or could be) essential to a humanely functioning society?
Rather than a return to dysfunctional “normal” circumstances, this is a moment when the fundamental categories of “essential” and “nonessential” work and workers should be thoroughly rethought and recast. When the existing arrangements have produced such dire conditions for so many, it is high time for the majority to systematically and strategically withhold our labor, our consumption and our consent to this genocidal machine. It is urgent that we move beyond its barbarism to a set of arrangements that prioritizes our humanity, our planet and our future.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-05-18--US Deportations Are Exporting COVID-19 to Latin America and the Caribbean

Travel is restricted around the world — but the United States has been flying migrants on hundreds of deportation flights to at least 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean since the pandemic began in the United States .
There have been over 100 cases of migrants deported from the United States testing positive for COVID-19 upon being returned to Guatemala , Haiti , Jamaica , Mexico and Colombia .
These deportations demonstrate the lengths to which the Trump administration is willing to go to prioritize its harsh immigration enforcement agenda .
Under a Centers for Disease Control and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration closed U.S. borders to asylum seekers but still allowed truck drivers , students and others to continue entering the United States .
Over 20,000 migrants have since been expelled to Mexico or rapidly flown to their home country .
Worse still , hundreds of unaccompanied children have been subject to this cruel policy in direct violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act passed by Congress in 2008 to establish a process for migrant children to receive temporary shelter and be reunited with their family members throughout their immigration proceedings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in providing access to medical care and poor conditions for migrants in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) , the agency deporting migrants .
Detainees have been denied access to soap , disinfectant and masks during this public health emergency .
Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia , a Salvadoran man , became the first detained person to die from COVID-19 after having been hospitalized from the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California .
There is no way to know how many more immigrants could already have been exposed to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraction of those within its migrant jails .
Of the ones that the agency did test , about 50 percent tested positive for COVID-19 .
ICE is now shuttling immigrants back and forth between migrant jails that have had COVID-19 outbreaks and then deporting them with just a temperature check .
ICE will be unable to administer tests for all deported migrants , and even when it does test them , there has already been at least one case of a migrant deported back with certification from the U.S. that he tested negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can not rely on testing or wait until it is implemented .
Regardless of whether or not migrants test for COVID-19 before being placed on flights , they are being returned to extremely unstable and dangerous situations in their home countries .
In El Salvador , those deported are taken directly from the airport to one of at least nine quarantine facilities for deported migrants where there have been reports of flooding , lack of access to medical care , overcrowding and unhygienic conditions .
Governments are also taking increasingly repressive measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals have been arrested in Honduras for violating curfews or for protesting over layoffs and lack of food , and one man there was killed and another seriously injured by the military police .
Curfews and suspensions to public transportation prevent families from accessing their relatives at airports or quarantine centers , which is especially concerning for unaccompanied children .
Migrants are being deported to some of the poorest countries in the hemisphere with extremely fragile health care systems .
Haiti may have as few as 60 ventilators for a country of 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medical experts in Haiti recently called for a suspension of deportation flights to the country .
Like much of the Trump administration ’ s policies toward the region , deportations reflect a racist and myopic approach to Latin America and its people .
The general attitude seems to be : It is not worth testing migrants for COVID-19 and it does not matter if they infect their communities when they are sent back .
“ Any measure that contributes to regionally spreading the disease or putting people at risk must be stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be catastrophic , ” reads a statement from Doctors without Borders calling for a halt to deportations .
By exporting the virus , the United States is contributing to a destabilization of the region .
There are already reports of growing food insecurity and deepening poverty due to COVID-19 in Latin America .
Increased out-migration is likely to follow .
The United States should immediately halt deportation flights for as long as there is a public health emergency .
Increasing testing of deported migrants alone is not the answer .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asylum seekers and allow them to shelter in place with family and friends in the United States .
It should also provide countries with assistance based on their public health needs , and not the extent to which they cooperate on migration enforcement .
Doing so will make us all safer and help the region respond in these tough times , building its resiliency for the future .

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
Travel is restricted around the world — but the United States has been flying migrants on hundreds of deportation flights to at least 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean since the pandemic began in the United States. There have been over 100 cases of migrants deported from the United States testing positive for COVID-19 upon being returned to Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and Colombia.
These deportations demonstrate the lengths to which the Trump administration is willing to go to prioritize its harsh immigration enforcement agenda. Under a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order issued on March 20, the administration closed U.S. borders to asylum seekers but still allowed truck drivers, students and others to continue entering the United States.
Over 20,000 migrants have since been expelled to Mexico or rapidly flown to their home country. Worse still, hundreds of unaccompanied children have been subject to this cruel policy in direct violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act passed by Congress in 2008 to establish a process for migrant children to receive temporary shelter and be reunited with their family members throughout their immigration proceedings.
These deportations also reflect the well-documented negligence in providing access to medical care and poor conditions for migrants in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency deporting migrants. Detainees have been denied access to soap, disinfectant and masks during this public health emergency. Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, a Salvadoran man, became the first detained person to die from COVID-19 after having been hospitalized from the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California.
There is no way to know how many more immigrants could already have been exposed to COVID-19, as ICE has only tested a fraction of those within its migrant jails. Of the ones that the agency did test, about 50 percent tested positive for COVID-19. ICE is now shuttling immigrants back and forth between migrant jails that have had COVID-19 outbreaks and then deporting them with just a temperature check. ICE will be unable to administer tests for all deported migrants, and even when it does test them, there has already been at least one case of a migrant deported back with certification from the U.S. that he tested negative only to test positive in Guatemala. We cannot rely on testing or wait until it is implemented.
Regardless of whether or not migrants test for COVID-19 before being placed on flights, they are being returned to extremely unstable and dangerous situations in their home countries. In El Salvador, those deported are taken directly from the airport to one of at least nine quarantine facilities for deported migrants where there have been reports of flooding, lack of access to medical care, overcrowding and unhygienic conditions.
ICE has only tested a fraction of those within its migrant jails. Of the ones that the agency did test, about 50 percent tested positive for COVID-19.
Governments are also taking increasingly repressive measures in response to COVID-19. Over 6,000 individuals have been arrested in Honduras for violating curfews or for protesting over layoffs and lack of food, and one man there was killed and another seriously injured by the military police. Curfews and suspensions to public transportation prevent families from accessing their relatives at airports or quarantine centers, which is especially concerning for unaccompanied children.
Migrants are being deported to some of the poorest countries in the hemisphere with extremely fragile health care systems. Haiti may have as few as 60 ventilators for a country of 11 million people. A presidentially appointed panel of medical experts in Haiti recently called for a suspension of deportation flights to the country.
Like much of the Trump administration’s policies toward the region, deportations reflect a racist and myopic approach to Latin America and its people. The general attitude seems to be: It is not worth testing migrants for COVID-19 and it does not matter if they infect their communities when they are sent back.
“Any measure that contributes to regionally spreading the disease or putting people at risk must be stopped immediately. A major outbreak of COVID-19 could be catastrophic,” reads a statement from Doctors without Borders calling for a halt to deportations.
By exporting the virus, the United States is contributing to a destabilization of the region. There are already reports of growing food insecurity and deepening poverty due to COVID-19 in Latin America. Increased out-migration is likely to follow.
The United States should immediately halt deportation flights for as long as there is a public health emergency. Increasing testing of deported migrants alone is not the answer. Instead, the United States should release immigrants and asylum seekers and allow them to shelter in place with family and friends in the United States. It should also provide countries with assistance based on their public health needs, and not the extent to which they cooperate on migration enforcement. Doing so will make us all safer and help the region respond in these tough times, building its resiliency for the future.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.