MEDIA ADVISORY FOR Friday, March 13, 2020
Contact: Jessica Felix Romero, Jobs With Justice, jessica@jwj.org, 202-393-1044 x104
Jobs With Justice National Conference, March on Georgia State Capitol, CANCELLED Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
JWJ forced to cancel organized march on Georgia Capitol – but demands for worker justice remain in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic
Atlanta, GA – On Friday, March 13th, as part of Jobs With Justice’s national conference, hundreds of workers from across the nation planned to march on the Georgia Capitol Dome to demand justice for voters, people of color, immigrants, and all working people across the South. However, in response to the spread of COVID-19, Jobs With Justice felt it necessary to cancel both the march and the conference that were set to take place in Atlanta.
In the spirit of solidarity, Jobs With Justice felt the best way to support workers during this time of crisis was to encourage them to put the safety of themselves and their families first. That means doing whatever possible to limit any factors, no matter how probable, that could lead to further community spread of COVID-19. However, the pandemic will not stop Jobs With Justice’s fight for worker integrity. In fact, given the lackluster response of government and corporate employers, working class people will be the hardest hit by COVID-19, making Jobs With Justice’s mission even more crucial.
“Make no mistake, the lack of paid sick leave, and the fact that so many workers are still uninsured – forcing them to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 testing – has greatly contributed to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States. When families are forced to put personal finances over personal health and safety during a crisis, there is a clear and obvious problem – which is why we will continue to fight against corporate greed and exploitation during this pandemic,” said Jobs With Justice Executive Director Erica Smiley.
In response to the crisis, Jobs With Justice will be releasing a call to action on behalf of workers across the country, to demand access to the basic services and treatments they need during the COVID-19 crisis.
Follow @jwjnational for further updates on worker struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, or go to www.jwj.org/conference-bulletin to learn more.
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Jobs With Justice is the country’s leading nonprofit in the fight against injustice in the workplace and systematic inequality. Comprising of over 200,000 members and local affiliates in nearly every state, Jobs With Justice brings together coalitions comprised of labor, community, student, and faith voices at the national and local levels to win improvements in people’s lives and shape the public discourse on workers’ rights and the economy.
