Dear friend,
As Governor Baker considers reopening parts of Massachusetts, we know that the economic fallout of this pandemic will have a significant and lasting impact on the most vulnerable members of our community. Boston Workers Circle members have a long history of showing up for each other and our neighbors when government systems fail us, and this pandemic is no different.
Back in January, which now feels like years ago, the BWC leadership team went through a racial justice training aimed at incorporating a racial justice lens into all that we do. I explored my journey from my parents’ working class immigrant roots to my own upbringing which was impacted by antisemitism alongside assimilation, upward mobility and whiteness.
As a recently retired nurse, I have personally seen the tremendous health inequities of how this virus has affected people of color, working class and poor people, immigrants and undocumented people. The government “solution” of a one-size fits all stimulus check doesn’t begin to address the pre-existing and profound inequities in our country.
Because of my relative financial security, I have decided to donate my entire stimulus check. I have never felt the protection and gross inequity of my race and class status more than I have since the pandemic hit.
I encourage you to think seriously about your family’s financial security relative to people who are most impacted by COVID-19, and consider making a donation to one or more of the campaigns listed below.
