COVID-19 Response Statement 3.19.20

Greetings Members and Supporters, Thursday, March 19, 2020

Cooperation Jackson is an instrument built to try and address the material struggles confronted by oppressed and working class people, including the very hard times that our people confront as a result of natural disasters, political conflicts, and economic collapses. We have tried to assimilate critical lessons learned from the collective experiences of Black and working class people from catastrophe's like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Great Recession of 2008. However, it has proven hard to plan for every contingency. Thus we find ourselves a bit flatfooted and under prepared to get the jump on the emerging Coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the land. For most of us, dealing with a pandemic of this nature is uncharted waters, as none who are alive today were on the scene 100 years ago during the time of the great flu of 1918 - 1921, known pejoratively as the Spanish or Swine Flu. So, we are having to learn from the experiences of others presently confronting this pandemic as best we can. 

We are taking our cues from the experiences of the Italians at present. As such, we have halted our effort to put together a direct mutual aid response like we planned on doing initially. We were advised not to do that unless we could adequately supply the gloves and masks needed to ensure that all of the workers that would participate in the organizing of the aid effort would have a level of direct protection. Some of our comrades in Italy responded in this nature, but had to suspend their efforts because of how many of them got infected and sick. We don't have enough masks, gloves or other sanitary equipment to follow their sound advice. Thus our delay in moving in this direction. 

Instead, what we are going to focus on is:

1. Creating an information sharing network of best practices in response to the crisis. 

2. Encouraging people everywhere to engage in digital organizing to build solidarity and mutual aid and make clear demands on the state. 

We are still aiming to do a mutual aid response in our local community, cause we know one is needed. But, we are going to take this time to figure out how to do it right as we learn from the experiences of others. 

Please note, that we do encourage everyone to do the following: 

1. Stock up on water and food. As this crisis is going to last more than the 2 to 3 weeks the US government is stating. 

2. Make emergence kits for yourself and your significant others, in case you have to move immediately as a result of social breakdown prompted by an extended crisis that hampers the production and distribution of goods and services. 

3. Make contingency plans with close family, friends and comrades as to where and who to move in case of the type of emergency stated above.