Revolutions Per Minute - Radio from the New York City Democratic Socialists of America

Viral Capitalism: Worker Struggles and Harm Reduction in the Age of COVID-19

Episode Summary

Capitalism is plunging into a catastrophic crisis as Covid-19 exposes the anarchy of international commodity production. Business and schools have shut down all across the world while states attempt to contain the virus resulting in an unprecedented surge in unemployment. Trump and his Republican Party, the American death cult of private property, have now proposed to offer up millions of human sacrifices to their free market deity in a self-destructive effort to restart the economy. So deluded by their wealth and religious commitment to neoliberal principles, they fail to see that capital is dependent on a healthy labor force and reject any alternative to our decomposing order. Their barbaric plans would not only lead to millions of deaths, but deepen the socioeconomic crisis that lays ahead. However, the workers of the world are organizing and fighting back. DSA member Halsey Hazzard, who organized a coffee shop in Williamsburg, joins us to discuss DSA’s COVID labor response committee. Then we’re joined by Jonathan Bailey of Amazonians United who helped lead a walkout at an Amazon warehouse last week where a worker had tested positive for COVID-19. Then we’ll hear a prerecorded interview from Amy Wilson, who spoke with with Jacob Clary and Dr. Bruce Trigg of the NYC-DSA Medics on the role of harm reduction in socialist organizing. If you need naloxone, sterile gear, or fentanyl test strips, or if you are interested in organizing to safely distribute these materials during this pandemic, please contact nycdsahr@gmail.com or 908-543-4986. RAPP (Release Aging People in Prisons) and partners are hosting a virtual forum led by formerly incarcerated people on the urgent necessity of releasing aging and vulnerable people from prisons on Wednesday, March 25 at 7pm. Learn more and RSVP here: http://rappcampaign.com/wp-content/uploads/Statewide-Virtual-Forum-Flyer-3.pdf The Harm Reduction Coalition has a guide for drug users during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://harmreduction.org/miscellaneous/covid-19-guidance-for-people-who-use-drugs-and-harm-reduction-programs/

Episode Notes

You’re listening to Revolution Per Minute on listener sponsored WBAI in NYC broadcasting at 99.5 FM and streaming on your favorite podcast app. To connect with us after the show you can email us at revolutionsnyc@gmail.com. You can find us on our website revolutionsperminute.simplecast.com or on twitter @nycRPM.