Advocating for Human Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 Pandemic is affecting all areas of human rights and social justice.
Below, please find actions you can take to advocate with local, state and federal officials, as well as specific actions Women’s Voices as an organization has taken.
Economic Justice
Action Items
Missouri needs food and housing assistance NOW!
Tell Gov. Parson to declare grocery workers first responders now!
Grocery store workers and pharmacy techs are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are working long hours to stock shelves, clean stores, keep food on the tables of our communities, and ensure that our families can get the medication they need.
Organizational Actions
Women’s Voices co-president Ruth Ehresman submitted a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stating that now is not the time to change the definition of poverty. Read more here.
Education
Organizational Actions
Women’s Voices has signed on the a letter to MO Gov. Parson, Missouri Department of Social Services, County Executive Samuel Page, Mayor Lyda Krewson, St. Louis County Council, St. Louis City Board of Aldermen, St. Louis City and County Health Departments demanding local and state leaders to support the essential work of early childhood educators. Read more here.
Gun Violence
Action Items
Tell Donald Trump: Gun Stores Are Not Essential During the Coronavirus Crisis
During a time of a national pandemic crisis, we need the president to work to reduce panic-buying of guns rather than doing favors for the corporate gun lobby groups that are using Coronavirus fears to spur gun sales. Sign petition here.
Health Care
Action Items
Volunteer Opportunity to Support Urgent Advocacy on Medicaid Expansion Appropriations
Now that the budget bills are in the State Senate, it is critically important that Senators hear from constituents that they support adding Medicaid Expansion funding back into House Bills 10 and 11 (the normal appropriations bills).
Jobs with Justice and members of the MOVE Collaborative are starting phone banks, patching constituents through to their Senators. Calls will start on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 and will be held weekly on Tuesdays from 5-8 p.m. The groups need volunteers. If you can help, access the sign-up form here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/volunteer-call-with-us-to-protect-medicaid/
COVID-19 RESPONSE-Public Health Policy Recommendations for Missouri
Sign the petition to demand that local and state policymakers should implement a comprehensive set of policies targeted at the populations most at risk of contracting COVID-19, and the institutions and practices that pose the greatest threat.
Organizational Actions
Women’ s Voices joined organizations from across the country in signing a letter crafted by Families USA urging congressional action on key health care priorities in the next COVID legislation. The letter advocates for Congress to advance specific policies in the next COVID package that will:
- Ensure access to affordable health insurance coverage for all.
- Provide states, localities, and tribes with the financial support they need to respond effectively.
- Protect the health and safety of the health care workforce.
- Organize national public health capacity.
- Protect all patients’ access to care and prohibit price gouging of health care services.
- Prioritize children’s health and well-being.
Human Rights
Action Items
Tell Missouri Senators: COVID Relief NOW!
Many of the benefits that assisted families earlier this year have expired and we are not yet through the pandemic. Congress must act again to provide relief. Contact your U.S. senators and tell them they must stay in DC to pass emergency relief that prioritizes workers and essential public services. Without action, millions could lose unemployment benefits and thousands of public jobs will be lost.
Urge Trump Administration to Rescind New HUD Rule
Demand stronger workplace health and safety protections for front line food workers
Frontline food workers still lack the necessary protective gear to keep themselves safe in the workplace and are dying from the virus at alarming rates.In order to protect workers and keep communities safe, OSHA must enact and enforce emergency protections for food workers today. Read more and sign the petition here.
Missouri needs food and housing assistance NOW!
Contact Your Members of Congress and Tell Them to Address the Needs of Survivors in the Next Stimulus Package
Right now, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are at great risk.
Tell Congress: Protect the Food Chain During the Pandemic–Our Farmworkers are In Danger!
The farmworkers who grow, pick and pack the food that ends up on our grocery store shelves have been deemed “essential” workers during the coronavirus pandemic, but are vulnerable and need additional health and safety measures in place to protect them from being infected by, and spreading, the coronavirus. They need additional protections because many live in cramped employer-provided housing and are transported in buses to and from worksites every day.
Justice System
Action Items
Submit Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 60
Missouri State Senator Brian Williams has introduced Senate Bill 60 in the current session of the Missouri legislature. SB 60, which has bipartisan support, is intended to increase public safety by building trust between the community and police. The bill includes increased accountability, a ban on no-knock warrants, a ban on chokeholds, and de-escalation training for police.On Monday, January 25, 2021 at 1:30 p.m., there will be a hearing on Senate Bill 60- the Law Enforcement Agency Accountability Bill. Citizens can submit written testimony asking for its passage through the committee. Register and submit written testimony here. The ACLU has prepared talking points on SB 60, which are available here. Listen to Monday’s committee hearing live here.
Call on the Missouri Supreme Court to Prevent a COVID-19 Public Health Crisis in Jails by Releasing People
St. Louis County had two jail employees test positive last month for COVID-19 and the County said nothing. We still do not know whether any detainees have been tested. Join Women’s Voices in calling on the MO Supreme Court to act. Sign the petition here.
Arch City Defenders has created an on-line petition to the Missouri Supreme Court asking for the release of non-violent offenders. You can review the petition and sign-on here.
Demand Governors Free Our Youth Amid COVID-19 Crisis
Organizational Actions
Women’s Voices joins Organizations to Urge State Leaders to Accommodate Re-entry
Reproductive Rights
Action Items
Demand that the Food and Drug Administration Lift Restrictions on Medication Abortion
Voting Rights
Action Items
Urge Gov. Parson to Extend Voting Protections
Missourians need to keep safe voting options during the pandemic! Missouri’s COVID-19 voting provisions, which allow absentee voting for those who have or are at high risk of COVID-19 and provide remote voting options for Missouri voters, expire on December 31, 2020. With upcoming 2021 municipal elections, and the pandemic at record levels, Gov. Mike Parson should extend safe voting for Missourians. Sign the petition to Gov. Parson.
Organizational Actions
Other
Missouri Must Provide Virtual Option for Hearings
The Missouri General Assembly session begins January 6. Currently, there is no option to join a Missouri State Legislature hearing virtually. The ACLU of Missouri joined with organizations across political boundaries to demand open government. Join us to demand that the Missouri Legislature allow Missourians to virtually participate in the political process. Please call your representatives today!
Stop the CDC Data Bypass!
Ensure the integrity of the data being released on the COVID-19 virus by hospitals, which have now been ordered to bypass the CDC and report the data to HHS, effectively allowing the Trump administration to skew, alter, withhold, and lie about the cases and deaths, and provide false guidelines regarding the pandemic! Sign the petition here.
Tell Congress: During This Pandemic, Support Our Public Postal Service
The Postal Service could run out of money as early as June. As most Americans shelter in place, postal workers are delivering people’s prescriptions, keeping small-enterprises in business and connecting families. The USPS has always been our emergency distribution system when our country is in crisis. The loss of the USPS would shatter our response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Sign the petition to demand support for the USPS here.
Sign the petition: Demand all U.S. governors investigate Amazon warehouses that put public health at risk
Amazon has failed to issue a comprehensive plan to protect its growing workforce from coronavirus exposure, despite the unwise decision to operate as usual. As COVID-19 infections are found in Amazon warehouses, this puts all of us — workers, customers, small-business sellers, and neighbors — at risk.
Public officials must safeguard workers’ and public health, since Amazon is not taking necessary measures. Demand your governor step in and investigate Amazon for the sake of public safety.
Sign the petition to your governor: Close Amazon warehouses that fail to protect public health NOW.
Tell Congress: Local News is Critical in the Midst of a Pandemic
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, local news outlets have been providing indispensable, real-time updates on information imperative to safeguarding America’s communities. Yet, many outlets will not survive COVID-19 without immediate economic help.
As Congress considers future economic stimulus aid packages for impacted people and businesses, they must also provide a lifeline to local reporters and local media to ensure they continue providing their vital service to the American people.
Sign the petition to Congress to include funding for local news in the next stimulus package.
For more information or to get involved, e-mail advocacy@womensvoicesraised.org
