Determined to ignore the dangers of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and force people to return to in-person work, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio refuses to offer any remote option for children and parents who continue to fear for their health. This all but ensures a surge in the spread of new contagious and vaccine-resistant variants of the virus when the school year begins on Monday.

House Democrats added $1.9 billion of funding to the violent Capitol Police that participated in the white supremacist violence of January 6, proving once again that they stand with the racist cops. Three members of the Squad abstained, ensuring the bill would pass.

Last Thursday, the New York City Department of Education announced that school reopenings will again be postponed for some students. Some of the city’s most vulnerable students, however, are being sent back to school today, even though the school buildings are still not safe. A teacher reports.

On Tuesday, the City of New York and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) announced a handshake deal, made without the input of UFT members, that will allow schools to reopen with in-person instruction in late September. The deal, which was made less than a day before an expected strike authorization vote, does nothing, however, to address the vast majority of the safety problems in schools, and it does not make any inroads in allowing teachers with high-risk family members to teach remotely.

Mayor de Blasio’s shoddy reopening plan for NYC schools --- an attempt to reboot the economy at the expense of working-class families --- reflects a total lack of concern for safety that will risk the lives of school staff, children, and the families of anyone who enters a school building. City teachers are discussing and planning for a strike to force remote instruction.

Furiously attempting to “reopen the economy,” both Republicans and Democrats are insisting that schools return to face to face teaching while simultaneously slashing the funding that would allow them to do so safely. Once again, the plan is to sacrifice the health of poor and working-class kids, teachers, and their families for a capitalist economy. 

In yet another in a string of police murders, Louisville cops murdered David McAtee, a local barbeque chef. They left his body lying in the street for 12 hours, reminding us of the level of contempt they have for the lives of Black people.

While the working class is increasingly expected by big businesses and the government to absorb all the hardships caused by the coronavirus, the pandemic is now being used to attack one of few social services offered to working-class children in the United States — their right to an education.

On March 19, at least 23 New York City transit workers had already tested positive for the Coronavirus. By April 8, 41 MTA workers had died, more than 1,100 tested positive, and 5,600 were in quarantine. Yet the city continues to pack workers into trains with reduced service.

Governor Cuomo cancelled spring break for NYC teachers and students on Tuesday in order, he says, to distract students and keep them indoors to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Mayor De Blasio announced last night that teachers and students will be expected to work during Passover and on the Easter holidays. Yet low-income students continue to languish at home without technology even as the city pours money into Apple’s pockets, buying hundreds of thousands of iPads with city money. And the United Federation of Teachers’ response is almost complete silence and capitulation.

On Friday evening, Mayor Bill De Blasio explained his decision not to shut down NYC schools despite how many other municipalities have done so. Between the political maneuvering, he made it very clear why the center of capital and the most segregated school system in the nation refuses to close schools: capitalist politicians see teachers as highly replaceable daycare for other workers, and schools as necessary for the health of the economy.

The HBO series Watchmen makes some accurate observations about American racism going back a century, but it ultimately fails to reflect the central nature of the relationship between class, race, and the role of police in present-day America. Despite this weakness, the series inadvertently warns against the idea that individual heroism can replace the strength of organized fightback. Warning: spoilers abound!

On July 22, Israeli construction crews demolished homes in East Jerusalem, claiming they were too close to the border with the West Bank. Two days later, the Democratic Party-controlled House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan resolution that attempts to lay groundwork for the criminalization of the BDS movement.

Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans took to the streets and forced the governor to resign. But this isn’t about one politician. This is a product of the colonial debt regime imposed on the island.

Accusations of anti-Semitism continue to plague Rep. Ilhan Omar despite their obvious lack of credibility. While she has had some private support inside the Democratic Party, the attacks levied against her show that the party is struggling to remain both relevant to young voters and connected to Israeli lobbyists in its determination to support imperialism.

As Warren announces her candidacy to become the Democratic Party presidential nominee for 2020, she presents herself as a progressive candidate. But her history tells a different story.

Despite the shockingly farcical hearing in which Brett Kavanaugh was forced to address allegations of his history of sexual assault, there is every indication that he will be confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and seated on the Supreme Court. The SCOTUS is, by design, an unaccountable branch of the government. On Monday, Left Voice will join the beginnings of a movement in the streets and will speak to the need for militant reforms.

Hulu’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is the depiction of a far-off and dystopian future, but its depictions of misogyny, gender essentialism, and religious fundamentalism hit way too close to home. Season two continues to develop the structure and oppression of the fictional nation of Gilead, but it also starts to depict the beginnings of a growing—and necessary—political resistance.

Solidarity rallies were held in New York City last week as hundreds showed their support for the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation and violence. The rallies were a response to the slaughter of Palestinian protesters at the fence marking the border of Gaza.

In a decision made by a corrupt and deeply racist legal system, Mumia Abu-Jamal was falsely convicted in 1982 of shooting and killing a police officer. High hopes for the influence of District Attorney Larry Krasner have been disappointed, revealing the bankruptcy of placing “progressive” lawyers in positions of executive power as a tactic for change.

The Taylor Law is perhaps best known for its no-strike clause. It is thrown around at union meetings in an attempt to strike fear into the heart of the rank and file. But what exactly is the Taylor Law? How does it work? This second article in a three-part series describes and explains the law itself. The next and last article will analyze several incidents in which the Taylor Law was challenged the outcomes of these challenges.

A DSA member ran for district attorney in New York City. Is this an appropriate ambition for a socialist?

The #MeToo campaign brings attention to the prevalence of sexual violence, particularly perpetrated by wealthy and powerful men. What does this mean for working class women?

A member of the Left Voice delegation to Argentina writes about her experience learning from the socialist women's group, Pan y Rosas.