82 Days Until the Election
August 12th, 2020
Jump to today’s actions:
Background
In his mad scramble to revive an economy he wrecked, Trump is strong-arming schools to reopen. His goal is simply to have parents return to work.
As happened after leading the fight to “liberate” state economies, the premature opening of schools will likely result in more illness and death.
Now he’s lying about the threat to school kids by saying: “If you look at children, children are almost — and I would almost say definitely — but almost immune from this disease.”
That statement even forced a Twitter ban because it violated “Twitter rules on COVID-19 misinformation . . .”
Israel, which has similarities to the US outbreak, may provide the most useful lesson.
Israel reopened its schools without restrictions and ten days later, a large outbreak occurred in a high school sparking a significant wave of infections in the general population. The government shut down parts of the economy again.
New York offers the best guidance to reopen schools. The key is that new infections in the community must be below 5% averaged over a two-week period.
Trump is putting his political fortunes ahead of his duty to fight the pandemic. The result will again be to prolong suffering.
How you can help
1. Call the Senate.
+ Script for Sen. Merkley
Portland office: 503-326-3386
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Trump is hobbling the Post Office to suppress the voteinNovember.He’ll do anything to “win” the election. We need hearingsabout this,but meanwhile, please encourage the public to help get people ballots and have them counted.Also, given Trump’s push to open schools, I encourage you to speak out that premature reopening of schools can go as badly as Trump’s “liberation” of state economies –which resulted in spreading the virus. School districts should reopenonlywhen community spread is below 5%,and use of masks should be strongly encouraged for everyone on school property.
+ Script for Sen. Wyden
Portland office: 503-326-7525
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Trump is hobbling the Post Office to suppress the voteinNovember.He’ll do anything to “win” the election. We need hearingsabout this,but meanwhile, please encourage the public to help get people ballots and have them counted.Also, given Trump’s push to open schools, I encourage you to speak out that premature reopening of schools can go as badly as Trump’s “liberation” of state economies –which resulted in spreading the virus. School districts should reopenonlywhen community spread is below 5%,and use of masks should be strongly encouraged for everyone on school property.
2. Call the House.
+ Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Trump is hobbling the Post Office to suppress the vote in November. He’ll do anything to “win” the election. We need hearings about this, but meanwhile, please encourage the public to help get people ballots and have them counted.
Also, given Trump’s push to open schools, I encourage you to speak out that premature reopening of schools can go as badly as Trump’s “liberation” of state economies – which resulted in spreading the virus. School districts should reopen only when community spread is below 5%, and use of masks should be strongly encouraged for everyone on school property.
+ Script for Greg Walden (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Republicans who care more about power than our country have enabled Trump’s war on democracy. I call on you to fight to preserve the sanctity of the vote. At the very least, would you fight Trump’s hobbling of the Post Office? It’s simply massive voter suppression. Fight for the Constitution, as thousands before you have done.
+ Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Trump is hobbling the Post Office to suppress the vote in November. He’ll do anything to “win” the election. We need hearings about this, but meanwhile, please encourage the public to help get people ballots and have them counted.
Also, given Trump’s push to open schools, I encourage you to speak out that premature reopening of schools can go as badly as Trump’s “liberation” of state economies – which resulted in spreading the virus. School districts should reopen only when community spread is below 5%, and use of masks should be strongly encouraged for everyone on school property.
+ Script for Peter Defazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Trump is hobbling the Post Office to suppress the vote in November. He’ll do anything to “win” the election. We need hearings about this, but meanwhile, please encourage the public to help get people ballots and have them counted.
Also, given Trump’s push to open schools, I encourage you to speak out that premature reopening of schools can go as badly as Trump’s “liberation” of state economies – which resulted in spreading the virus. School districts should reopen only when community spread is below 5%, and use of masks should be strongly encouraged for everyone on school property.
+ Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Trump is hobbling the Post Office to suppress the vote in November. He’ll do anything to “win” the election. We need hearings about this, but meanwhile, please encourage the public to help get people ballots and have them counted.
Also, given Trump’s push to open schools, I encourage you to speak out that premature reopening of schools can go as badly as Trump’s “liberation” of state economies – which resulted in spreading the virus. School districts should reopen only when community spread is below 5%, and use of masks should be strongly encouraged for everyone on school property.
3. Get 2020 Ready.
Oregonians are joining with activists across the country to power a LANDSLIDE democratic victory in November 2020, from the White House to the Senate to the State Houses. Here’s how you can get involved:
Elections Power Hour weekly strategy call. Mondays at 5pm
Call Arizona voters. Thursdays, training at 5pm, calling begins at 5:30
Write letters to voters with Swing Left and Vote Forward. Saturdays 12-2pm
Write postcards to Voters of Color with Reclaim Our Vote. Sundays 3-5pm
Sources
NPR, August 11, 2020: 97,000 Kids Tested Positive For Coronavirus In Last 2 Weeks Of July : Coronavirus Live Updates : NPR
FOX News, August 6, 2020: Facebook removes Trump post over coronavirus misinformation rules; Twitter also clamps down | Fox News
Washington Post/Bloomberg, August 11, 2020: Here’s What We Know About Kids and Covid-19 - The Washington Post
ABC News, July 13, 2020: US debates school reopening, WHO warns 'no return to normal' - ABC News
