Beginning on April 1st, 2020, many Americans will be unable to pay their rent, mortgage, loans, or utility bills in the context of the pandemic and global recession. The president has so far spent $2.5 trillion in bailing out the stock market and large corporations, and nothing to bail out the working class.
Without a massive stimulus package, freeze on rent, utilities, and mortgage collection, millions of people will lose their jobs and homes. Unemployment could reach 30% according to some projections. We have to start organizing right now, turn our collective desperation to collective power, and force our government to enact a bailout for regular people, not Wall Street.
Our DemandsRent Strike 2020 started when a simple petition to freeze rent, utilities and mortgage payments has collected over 2 million signatures within 48 hours. The creators of the petition (Joshua Collins, and Rose Caucus) realized that this is a revolutionary moment and immediately passed it off to organizers who could build this into a movement that will be able to deliver a win for regular people.
We have put together a comprehensive set of immediate demands that we are calling the People’s Bailout. Our goal is to win these demands for the working class by building a mass movement. We hope to partner with local tenants unions, labor unions, immigrant groups, prison reform and abolition groups, and left and socialist elected officials who share our movement strategy and vision. Following are our initial set of of demands:
Freeze all rent, mortgage, utility payments or we will carry out a rent strike!
Freeze all student, medical, car and consumer debt and interest during the ongoing pandemic and recession. Cancel student debt!
Tax big business and the rich, not regular people, to pay for the crisis.
House all unsheltered people to protect their health and safety, and public health at-large.
Suspend all Farm Service Agency payments to ensure that we have an uninterrupted food supply.
Provide free mass testing and treatment! Authorize the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover all out of pocket expenses so people can get tested and treated without worrying about going bankrupt.
Medicare for All! Immediately nationalize pharma, healthcare, medical instruments and all providers for an emergency response like Spain did to swiftly respond to the health crisis.
Give democratic powers to Committees of workers and scientists over the response to the crisis in essential industries – including healthcare, transportation, logistics, grocery.
Nationalize any industry threatening layoffs that hasn't been bailed out under democratic workers' control.
End the mass incarceration system & immediately release all immigrants from detention centers to stop the spread of COVID-19 between prisoners and guards.
Show your support for this campaign by endorsing it and sharing why!
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Kathleen Sherrill endorsed
“Many of us are unemployed and at risk of our losing our homes at no fault. We need to stand together in order to get through this pandemic.”
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Dustin Lee Wood endorsed
“I support rent strike 2020 because it gives Americans their livelihood back until they get back on her feet.”
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Ian Maynus endorsed
“Rent strike 2020. You’re endorsement can save Americans from homelessness. Together we can change our history and move into a future of collective consciousness.”
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Lee Burns endorsed
“Nationwide, people were forced out of work and made to allocate what little funds available towards making ends meet elsewhere. Some states are barely able to offer unemployment. Landlords in these times need to work with banks and the government, not gauge their tenants.”
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Allan AOC-Hill endorsed
“Not only do I endorse Bernie and all squad members, I also care about their basic rights as a 68 y/o houseless vet, I seek a (FB) Green New Global Deal, and one day our children will have it.”
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Jennifer Jones endorsed
“Endorse!”
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Ayra Alcocer endorsed
“4305 S.Semoran Blvd#5 Orlando F.L.32822”
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Cale Rader endorsed
“Myself, I work as both a musician and a bouncer. Both of those gigs have come to a screeching halt. Living in Nashville, if forced to leave my home, I would have nowhere to go, and no way to pay for it. Nashville is still greatly damaged from the tornado. ... there has to be a process to get our feet back on the ground. We need a break.”
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Cadet Kush endorsed
“Early everyone I know has been laid off temporarily, and everyone i know who worked at a locally owned restaurant has been laid off indefinitely due to these businesses having to close down for good. Both of my parents have been laid off indefinitely. As have I, and I am the sole provider for my 5 year old. We were given less than 24 hours separation notice and have zero savings , as we barely make it as it.”
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Nicole Gladding endorsed
“We're in unprecedented times and people are being laid off which is not their fault.”
Campaign created!
Show your support for this campaign by endorsing it and sharing why!
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Kathleen Sherrill endorsed
“Many of us are unemployed and at risk of our losing our homes at no fault. We need to stand together in order to get through this pandemic.”
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Christin Day endorsed
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Troy Brown endorsed
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Faith Robles endorsed
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Neal Schofield endorsed
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Ciara Budds endorsed
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Dustin Lee Wood endorsed
“I support rent strike 2020 because it gives Americans their livelihood back until they get back on her feet.”
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Madison Montgomery endorsed
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Ian Maynus endorsed
“Rent strike 2020. You’re endorsement can save Americans from homelessness. Together we can change our history and move into a future of collective consciousness.”
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Angie Edmond endorsed
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Lee Burns endorsed
“Nationwide, people were forced out of work and made to allocate what little funds available towards making ends meet elsewhere. Some states are barely able to offer unemployment. Landlords in these times need to work with banks and the government, not gauge their tenants.”
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Michel Linke endorsed
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Allan AOC-Hill endorsed
“Not only do I endorse Bernie and all squad members, I also care about their basic rights as a 68 y/o houseless vet, I seek a (FB) Green New Global Deal, and one day our children will have it.”
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Lauren Moss endorsed
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Mason Crawford endorsed
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Jennifer Jones endorsed
“Endorse!”
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jt endorsed
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Jenny endorsed
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Shani Casella endorsed
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Maria Boyarinova endorsed
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Yana Sabeva endorsed
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Ayra Alcocer endorsed
“4305 S.Semoran Blvd#5 Orlando F.L.32822”
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Alan Mulrine endorsed
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Cale Rader endorsed
“Myself, I work as both a musician and a bouncer. Both of those gigs have come to a screeching halt. Living in Nashville, if forced to leave my home, I would have nowhere to go, and no way to pay for it. Nashville is still greatly damaged from the tornado. ... there has to be a process to get our feet back on the ground. We need a break.”
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Cadet Kush endorsed
“Early everyone I know has been laid off temporarily, and everyone i know who worked at a locally owned restaurant has been laid off indefinitely due to these businesses having to close down for good. Both of my parents have been laid off indefinitely. As have I, and I am the sole provider for my 5 year old. We were given less than 24 hours separation notice and have zero savings , as we barely make it as it.”
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Brittany Masone endorsed
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Myra Brelvi endorsed
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Nicole Gladding endorsed
“We're in unprecedented times and people are being laid off which is not their fault.”
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Blanca Ruiz endorsed
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mihir shah endorsed
