Government Failures and Our Demands: A Working List

Seemingly overnight, COVID-19 has taken the world by storm. However, in the united states, one of the many things our federal, state, and local governments have failed at is responding rapidly to the needs of the most vulnerable citizens who otherwise have no protections in the midst of this global pandemic. These communities being: BIPOC, trans and queer people, sex workers, unhoused people, IV drug users, and—perhaps most importantly—the people who exist at all of these intersections. Community organizers around the country are taking action to provide mutual aid, but that work—while vital—does not make up for the work our governments are failing to do.

As a result of this, many people around the country have released—either as one organization or a coalition of organizations and citizens—demands to local governments insisting that they do the necessary work of caring for and providing for their citizens. Or dealing with next level civil unrest until they do.

From occupying abandoned homes, to demanding moratoriums on rent, mortgage, utilities, and other payments; from calling for a reduced police presence in poor and Black neighborhoods, to demanding moratoriums and delayed arrests of people who commit minor offenses and the release of all people in ICE detention centers.

Here is a developing list of organizations around the country and their demands for their respective governments. This list will be updated as frequently as new demands are released by community organizers and organizations around the country:

ATLANTA:

NEW YORK:

• Reclaim Our Homes: Rent/Mortgage Suspension Now!

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VIRGINIA:

• A Pandemic Platform for the People of Richmond

PENNSYLVANIA:

• Philadelphia workers’ demands during COVID-19

COUNTRYWIDE:

• Tell Uber + Lyft: Protect your drivers from coronavirus.

• Responding To Coronavirus: Ensuring Housing Stability During A Crisis