By Michael Hernandez
OXNARD—A May 1st rally promoted locally as “Bail Out The Working Class! was part of a nationwide protest involving essential workers striking for one day or calling sick and demanding safer conditions during the coronavirus outbreak.
A caravan of over 70 vehicles and 100 individuals, including many local farmworkers, rallied in the parking lot outside of the Gold’s Gym parking lot, 150 West Esplanade (by the Oxnard Food 4 Less). Their destination was the Camarillo field office of California State Assemblywoman (44-D) Jacqui Irwin who with State Senator Henry Stern (27-D) has a regular teleconference town hall on the coronavirus every Friday at 4 p.m. (English) and at 5:30 p.m. (Spanish).
The event celebrated International Workers Day: #OurFamiliesAreEssential and #MayDay805. The major issue: “Cancel Rent.” Community organizers seen at the event included those from Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP).
May 1st is also the Feast of St. Joseph (step-dad to Jesus and husband of Mary) designated by Pope Pius XII in the Roman Catholic Church. The pope wanted to honor workers and the trades.
The nationwide protests by frontline workers on International Workers’ Day included employees of Amazon, Whole Foods, Target, and Fedex. They demanded unpaid time off work, hazard pay, sick leave, protective gear and cleaning supplies. They say that flawed policies by employers have caused some of their co-workers to become sick with COVID-19.
Demonstrations were planned in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and other cities. Protesters asked consumers not to cross picket lines or use those companies’ services. Nurses took to the streets outside more than 130 hospitals in 13 states to protest a lack of personal protective equipment and the punishments they endure when they speak out about the problem. May 1st nationwide organizers say that more than 60 nurses nationwide have died of COVID-19. Workers who interact with the public: nurses, grocery store workers and delivery drivers have taken action in recent weeks to protect themselves.
Amazon said it has spent more than $800 million on COVID-19 safety measures including masks, hand sanitizer, gloves and installing hand-washing stations at warehouses. Walmart is conducting daily temperature checks and is providing masks and gloves to store and warehouse workers.
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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It is truly a sad situation. May God Be with us . And my we all seek refuge in Our Father Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Anen
I understand the frustration these workers are experiencing. This pandemic is hard for everyone. But I am somewhat embarrassed that this happened in my town. Let me tell you that our population has very few college educated citizens, so that many of them are not understanding of the public health issues. I have friends who own apartment buildings and they are having problems making their mortgage payments so this goes both ways. What especially made me sad was the number of Mexican flags being waved. They really don’t understand what things are like right now in Mexico where the virus is growing very fast. So try and understand the limited views of the protesters. I feel sorry for them.