Ever since Occupy Wall Street’s refrain, “We are the 99%,” fighting inequality has been the beating heart of the US left, and that project has only been amplified by inspiring figures like Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America. It’s not enough to win good policies if we don’t address the fundamental injustices of economic and social inequality.

 

In 2019, women still make about 80 cents on the dollar compared to men. Over a 40-year career, Black women earn nearly a million dollars less than their white male counterparts. LGBTQ+ rights are still under threat in the workplace and beyond, and the voting rights of people of color are under constant attack. It’s time for us to rebuild a unified working class that can lift up the oppressed as it fights back against the 1% that divides and exploits us all.

 

As a step towards this rebuilding, we must address the five central types of violence waged against black, brown and indigenous Americans: physical, political, legal, economic and environmental. We also must address a broken criminal justice system, massive disparities in the availability of financial services, disparities in access to healthcare, environmental disparities, and educational disparities.

 

To address the misogyny intrinsic in our institutions of power, I commit to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will ensure that all people recieve equal pay for equal work. I will fight to repeal the Hyde Amendment and fully fund Planned Parenthood, Title X, and other initiatives that protect women’s health, access to contraception, and the availability of a safe and legal abortion. I will staunchly and vocally oppose all efforts to undermine or overturn Roe v. Wade, and fight to end sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence in workplaces, the military, and other institutions.