[Peace-discuss] US puts Reality Winner in danger of Covid

[J.B. Nicholson]

C. G. Estabrook wrote:
> https://dissenter.substack.com/p/covid-19-cases-triple-at-prison-where

 From that article:
> At Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, where NSA whistleblower
> Reality Winner is incarcerated, the number of COVID-19 infections have tripled in
> one week.
> 
> Her sister Brittany Winner said one of her bunkmates had "severe symptomatic
> COVID-19 and was removed." Brittany Winner believes it is a "matter of time"
> before Reality Winner falls ill.

Relatedly, COVID-19 runs through Belmarsh prison as well (much like so many prisons) 
where Julian Assange is being held:

 From https://on.rt.com/aeng :
> Julian Assange has revealed to a friend the harrowing details of his life in
> Belmarsh. WikiLeaks founder is still confined at the UK maximum security prison,
> despite it being stricken with the novel coronavirus.
> 
> Covid-19 has spread around Belmarsh to such an extent that the prison is “barely
> functioning” any more at all, British freelance video journalist Vaughan Smith has
> revealed in a Facebook post, after talking with Assange by phone.
> 
> As many as 150 prison staff members have been forced into self-isolation as they
> might have contracted the coronavirus, Smith said. The prison admitted in
> mid-March that the disease already reached it premises and even reported one
> coronavirus-linked inmate death.
> 
> Assange told Smith that the real death toll might well be higher, since “the virus
> is ripping through the prison.”
> 
> The WikiLeaks founder has to spend almost 24 hours alone in his cell as the prison
> apparently strives to limit any contact to stem the spread of the disease. Yet
> Assange and other inmates still spend the half an hour of exercise they are still
> allowed in a yard crowded with others, according to his friend.


Meanwhile, in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has re-closed businesses: per his tweet 
https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1282752861835649024 from 2020-07-13:
> NEW: #COVID19 cases continue to spread at alarming rates.
> 
> CA is now closing indoor operations STATEWIDE for:
> 
> -Restaurants
> -Wineries
> -Movie theaters, family entertainment
> -Zoos, museums
> -Cardrooms
> 
> Bars must close ALL operations.

and in https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1282753656983449600 also from 2020-07-13:
> NEW: As #COVID19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise, 30 counties will now
> be required to CLOSE INDOOR OPERATIONS for:
> 
> -Fitness Centers
> -Places of Worship
> -Offices for Non-Critical Sectors
> -Personal Care Services
> -Hair Salons and Barbershops
> -Malls

Newsom also noted “We’re continuing to see hospitalizations rise and we continue to 
see an increase in the rate of positivity in the state, [hence] We are moving back 
into a ‘modification mode’ of our original stay-at-home order. This is a new 
statewide action, effective today.”

And the news gets worse for the poor: rent payments and eviction moratoriums run out 
in August 2020. So renters who have lost their jobs and any healthcare tied to those 
jobs will soon have to come up with all delayed rent payments.

Federally, the Democrats have been absolutely no help in this. Democrats show no 
clear support for a Universal Basic Income (even one that would run out when COVID-19 
shutdowns/stay-at-home orders end). Instead Democrats overwhelmingly supported the 
CARES Act and trillions were spent mostly on the wealthiest people and businesses. 
Democrats support Joe Biden for US President and Biden has already said that he'd 
veto any Medicare for All bill that crossed his desk as president.

Not surprisingly, "Young Black voters say they aren't enthusiastic about a Joe Biden 
presidency" according to 
https://headtopics.com/us/young-black-voters-say-they-aren-t-enthusiastic-about-a-joe-biden-presidency-14229289 
(and copied widely) and commented on in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3IUV-4Y8mc 
(Jimmy Dore's right and proper take on this news), and 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK0k1BMUxl4 highlighting the Democrats that joined 
the Republicans in objecting to ending the Afghanistan war.

-J