More than 90,000 people have died of the novel coronavirus in the U.S., but the White House hasn’t called for national mourning. To make up for that, grass roots activist groups arranged a Day of Mourning today to call attention to our losses.
As #COVID19 infections in the US increase to over 1.5m and deaths near 100,000, folks are holding a nationwide #DayofMourning on 5/20. It’s important to remember that these numbers are people and loved ones. https://t.co/hxqqwwDWgf
— Leola Abraham (@Springs2Mind) May 20, 2020
Today, in Washington, D.C., there was a funeral procession consisting of hundreds of cars that drove to the White House …
#TrumpsDeathToll: 92,712K+
DC's memorial funeral procession of approx. 200+ mourners are ready to roll out solemnly to the White House on this #COVID_19 #DayOfMourning.
And, let us not forget in November, #TrumpOwnsEveryDeath.#TrumpLiesPeopleDie#RemoveTrump pic.twitter.com/kFXuTa5vYj
— Remove Trump (@Remove_TrumpNow) May 20, 2020
… where body bags were laid to symbolize the lost.
Hundreds of protesters drove in a funeral procession today & laid fake body bags outside The White House to pay tribute to the over 90K+ people who have died of #coronavirus on Trump’s watch.#DayOfMourning#TrumpDeathToll92K
Photos by @LiteraryMouse @bkettenring @courtneykealy pic.twitter.com/Jdxyd1TR5W— ͏Postcards4USA (@postcards4USA) May 21, 2020
Body bags were also seen in Texas.
Beautiful and powerful. Never forget! #DayofMourning #NationalFuneral pic.twitter.com/iQm4O2P6pV
— Indivisible TX-24 (@indivisibletx24) May 20, 2020
A funeral procession took place in Michigan.
A #NationalFuneral procession led by Indivisible Huron Valley & allies passes the home of District 44 Rep @matthewmaddock as activists hold the Trump & @GOP accountable for the deaths of nearly 100K Americans. #DayofMourning #TrumpLiesPeopleDie @maddow @IndivisibleTeam @MoveOn pic.twitter.com/2wq6mC5uTx
— IndivisibleHV (@IndivisibleHv) May 20, 2020
In Arizona, there was chalk art (sound up to hear the commentary).
Video from the #DayofMourning by @Indivisibleaz @IndivisibleTeam https://t.co/YJQZstAh29
— Indivisible of AZ (@IndivisibleofAZ) May 20, 2020
In North Carolina, folks were out with signs.
IndivisibleCommonGroundWNC, Sylva, NC
Remembering 93,000 & counting lives lost. #NationalDayOfMourning #TrumpDeathToll93K #TrumpLiesPeopleDie #HeroesAct #VoteBlue2020 @CommonWnc @MaddowBlog @maddow @MoveOn @IndivisibleTeam pic.twitter.com/0JIpsqWb2w— Nilo (@nilocouture) May 20, 2020
Activists in Colorado lined up their body bags across from Senator Cory Gardner’s office.
Across from Sen. Cory Gardner’s office today with @indivisiblefrr. #copolitics #cosen #PeopleOverProfit #DayofMourning pic.twitter.com/F5raBlmNih
— ProgressNow Colorado (@ProgressNowCO) May 20, 2020
In New York City, my top hat and I hit Times Square for some photo ops with my activist friends. In the top right of this photo is the Trump Death Clock, which highlights the estimated number of COVID-19 deaths that could have been prevented if Trump hadn’t delayed taking action. (The total number of deaths appears in the upper right corner of the Death Clock.)
Photo by George De Castro Day. Click to enlarge.
We want to remove this impeached president from office …
Photo by George De Castro Day. Note the Trump Death Clock at the top of the picture. Click to enlarge.
… and arrest him, because now — in addition to all his previous crimes, some of which he admitted on camera — he created a deadly national health crisis by failing at basic leadership.
Photo by George De Castro Day. Click to enlarge.
The president should have to live up to the same standards that you and I do, if not higher ones. And what happens to you at work when you’re bad at your job? You’re fired. What happens if your poor performance leads to the death of other people? You can be charged with a crime and go to jail. Trump is not a king and he’s not above the law.
A livestreamed reading of the names of all the people who lost their lives to COVID-19 started at 2 p.m. today and will continue for a full 24 hours, so you can still add a name to the list via the Naming the Lost website. Thanks to George De Castro Day, Donna Aceto, and Tina for coming out to Times Square today. And, as always, thanks to Laurie Arbeiter of We Will Not Be Silent for her graphic-design work, signage, and endless dedication to nonviolent protest.
Laurie Arbeiter, photographed by George De Castro Day.
You know, there’s a lot of us who don’t need to wave guns and Nazi signs to make a point. Hmmm. We’ve got people who want to help other people (with health care, education, housing, etc.) on one side, and guns and Nazis on the other. Which side are you on?