Minneapolis, MN – Political Secretary of Freedom Road Socialist Organization Steff Yorek stated on May 26, “The United States has just reached a grim milestone, 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 with no end in sight, earning this country the dubious distinction of edging into the top ten for deaths per person, with 30.46 deaths per 100,000.”

Meanwhile Trump has continued to show an utter disregard for the loss of life. The federal response has been weak, ineffectual, has intentionally undermined state public health plans and continues to steal PPE and testing supplies from states.

Yorek continued, “Trump is fueling and supporting the ‘Reopen’ campaign being sponsored and funded by the DeVos family and wealthy forces aligned with the GOP. Democratic governors are caving in to business interests, sending working people to die as new cases surge in many places.”

A recent study found that the pandemic continues to be a disaster for African Americans. Among those seeking medical care for COVID-19, Black patients were hospitalized at nearly three times the rate of white and Latino patients. The disparity remained even after researchers took into account differences in age, sex, income and the prevalence of chronic health problems that exacerbate COVID-19, like hypertension and Type 2 diabetes.

Yorek stated, “African Americans get worse health care and are more likely to face exposure to the virus, because of persistent racist discrimination.

“This push to reopen is really a push to transfer the economic crisis from the rich to working people by ending unemployment and sick leave support, leaving us with a Sophie’s choice to put ourselves in harm’s way or starve. 100,000 are dead and capitalism is making this pandemic a human-made disaster.”

#MinneapolisMN #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #OppressedNationalities #US #Healthcare #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #SteffYorek #Socialism #DonaldTrump #COVID19

Minneapolis, MN – Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s Political Secretary Steff Yorek stated today, March 4, “As COVID-19 spreads here in the United States, the potential exists for the corporate health care system to be overwhelmed. American capitalism has developed a health care system that’s poorly equipped to do basic public health. There is no profit in disease prevention.”

Yorek noted, “The epicenter of the U.S. outbreak today is Washington state. Nine people have died in the Seattle area and health care workers are under quarantine. A new case in North Carolina can be traced to travel to Washington state. We can expect it to continue to spread while a vaccine is 12 to 18 months away. When a vaccine does come available the rich intend to make as much money off it as possible. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said he won’t promise a vaccine will be affordable to working people because profit trumps human needs.”

Yorek also stated, “In the meantime, the virus is hitting Iran hard. The World Health Organization is very concerned that because of U.S. sanctions, there will not be sufficient disposable medical supplies and ventilators. Iran is taking many positive steps, including rapidly releasing non-violent prisoners who are clear of the virus to prevent prison-based outbreaks. It is a good thing that socialist China is providing medical assistance.

“This is the time to practice solidarity with the neighbors on the block and across the globe. We will have to be prepared and not panicked and demand that the pandemic measures meet people’s needs – not profit,” she concluded.

#MinneapolisMN #International #Iran #US #MiddleEast #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #China #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #SteffYorek #Socialism #DonaldTrump #Coronavirus #COVID19

In addition to waging wars on Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and other places, the U.S. is in the midst of a massive military buildup targeting Russia and the People’s Republic of China.

“From the Philippines to Palestine, we need to be in the streets demanding ‘U.S. out’ and resisting new wars,” said Yorek. “We insist that resources be directed to addressing real problems that we are facing here at home, as opposed to defending and expanding Wall Street’s empire.”

Freedom Road Socialist Organization helped organized the march at the Republican National Convention where Trump was nominated, as well as the demonstrations at many of his campaign appearances.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #frso #SteffYorek #DonaldTrump #Trump #MilitaryParade

Minneapolis, MN – President Trump signed a U.S. sanctions bill against Russia, Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on August 1. In a hostile move, both the U.S. House and Senate voted by large majorities to target the oil and gas industries of Russia, the space and nuclear industries of Iran, and the international banking and financial institutions dealing with the DPRK.

Steff Yorek of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization said on August 2, “This is yet another provocative and warlike act by Trump and the U.S. Congress against sovereign countries. It is dangerous for the peoples of the world and for us here too. As the U.S. grows weaker and weaker in its ability to dictate to other countries, we are seeing more bullying, threats and possibility of new wars.”

Yorek continued, “The hypocrisy of Wall Street, Congress and the corporate media is plain for all to see. All they can talk about is how Russia interfered in the U.S. elections, while the U.S. interferes openly in the elections of Ukraine, Venezuela, Honduras and many other countries. The U.S. funds and arms far-right and even fascist groups, shares intelligence with rich politicians to overthrow elected leaders, and then lies about election results in those countries, while claiming to spread democracy and freedom.

“As every person in the Middle East knows, U.S. sanctions lead to war. Russia, Iran and the DPRK are responding by gathering their friends and allies, and preparing for self-defense. As Russia, China and others are working together more and more, many are welcoming the opportunity to end the poverty, misery and war the U.S. brings to their countries,” Yorek concluded.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Venezuela #PeoplesStruggles #Iran #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #sanctions #SteffYorek #NorthKorea #Antifascism #DonaldTrump #Trump

Washington, DC – Unemployment rates ticked upwards in 30 states, according to an Aug. 18 report from the federal government’s U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ohio, Maryland and South Carolina had the largest job losses. Mississippi has the country’s highest unemployment rate, at 8%. Meanwhile, Congress is in recess until September.

About 3 million workers have lost long-term jobless benefits since emergency unemployment insurance was allowed to lapse in late December 2013. At the time, Democratic leadership failed to insist on including extended unemployment compensation (EUC) in the budget compromise. That gave Republicans veto power over attempts in Congress to restore the program.

Early this year the Senate voted to bring back benefits for the long-term jobless, but the House leadership refused to allow the measure to come to the floor. Many conservative politicians blame jobless workers and unemployment insurance for the persistently high unemployment rates.

Commenting on the impasse in Congress, Steff Yorek of Freedom Road Socialist Organization states, “The fact members of Congress are at home campaigning – instead of addressing the real crisis that unemployed workers are facing – is a searing indictment of the politicians who serve the 1%.”

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #Capitalism #SteffYorek #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights

Washington, DC – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stated in a June 6 press statement, “It is my hope that Congress can still act on extending unemployment. This vital lifeline is so critical to struggling families in Nevada and throughout the country.”

Addressing the House impasse that is holding up legislation to bring back unemployment insurance for the long-term jobless, Reid condemned the Republican leadership stating, “Speaker Boehner has refused to consider an extension of unemployment insurance to over 2.9 million Americans out of work.”

The crisis began in December 2013 when Congress failed to pass legislation to continue Extended Unemployment Compensation. Democratic leaders in Congress did not insist on including benefits for the long-term jobless in the budget compromise, which gave House Republicans the say-so over any attempt to bring back the emergency benefits.

Many observers say that President Obama is unwilling to expend political capital to see a restoration of the benefits.

Steff Yorek, a spokesperson for Freedom Road Socialist Organization, condemned congressional inaction on June 7 stating, “Unemployed workers who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own are facing a crisis. They are losing their homes, their cars are being repossessed, utilities are cut off and families are being destroyed. The so called ‘job creators’ are failures and so is their capitalist system. Congress needs to act now and restore emergency unemployment benefits for the long term jobless.”

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #Capitalism #SteffYorek #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights #HarryReid

Minneapolis, MN – Responding to President Obama’s June 22 national televised speech on Afghanistan, Meredith Aby of the Twin Cites based Anti War Committee stated, “The U.S. needs to get out of Afghanistan now.” Aby was one of the main organizers of the massive anti-war march on the opening day of the 2008 Republican National Convention and she is one of the 23 peace and international solidarity activists who have been subpoenaed to appear in front of the Chicago grand jury investigating ‘material support for terrorism.’ The grand jury, headed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, is attempting to criminalize anti-war activism.

Commenting on the president’s speech, Aby stated, “The president has been forced to announce a small withdrawal because the American people are overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. However, just like Obama did with Iraq last year, he is trying to muddle the debate by announcing a ‘withdrawal’ when in fact he is continuing the occupation. The American public does not want to fund death and destruction and instead is concerned about the cost to important social programs at home. We need to continue to protest for all the troops to be brought home.”

Tracy Molm, a member of Students for Democratic Society, said this about the president’s speech, “What the U.S. is doing in Afghanistan is wrong and the people of Afghanistan are suffering because of it. The U.S. and its allies are backing a corrupt puppet government that the Afghan people do not support. On top of that, the U.S. government is responsible for a massive number of civilians being killed and injured.”

Steff Yorek, the Political Secretary of Freedom Road Socialist Organization states, “No one, including the people of Afghanistan, wants to live under occupation of a foreign power, so they have created a massive resistance to that occupation. The announcement that 10,000 out of the 100,000-plus troops in Afghanistan will leave does not cut it. All the troops need to come home now.”

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #AntiWarCommittee #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #BarackObama #MeredithAby #TracyMolm #SteffYorek