More than three dozen elected officials, community and grassroots organizations, labor unions, and more have joined an ongoing effort to memorialize Iowans who have lost their lives to COVID-19. Together, this coalition will recognize the more than 5,600 victims with a virtual wall on IowaCovidMemorial.org and memorial events surrounding the one year anniversary of the first Iowa COVID-19 death on March 24, 2021.
Iowa COVID-19 Memorial coalition partners include AFSCME Council 61, Iowa State Education Association, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans, and the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. The full list of partners can be found below.
After last week’s launch, the Iowa COVID-19 Memorial has now received a growing number of submissions, sharing the stories and photos of loved ones they have lost to COVID-19. Anyone who has lost a family member, friend, or loved one due to COVID-19 is invited to submit their name to be listed on the online virtual wall.
“We’re proud to be part of this coalition that is stepping up to recognize the unspeakable tragedy our state has experienced during the past year,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “With the lack of leadership coming from the Governor’s office, there’s been a lack of opportunity to properly recognize the full impact of this pandemic. With the help of our partners, we want to provide a much needed avenue for Iowans to process this reality and express grief for the immense suffering endured this year.”
“The loss of thousands of lives is a direct result of the bungled COVID response by the state,” said Jamie Burch Elliott, director of public policy for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa. “Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa lawmakers continue to disregard the pandemic and its toll on Iowans by refusing to listen to the science. The largest public health crisis of our lifetimes has shown the importance of elected officials using science-based guidance, listening to medical professionals, and relying on public health expertise. Instead of focusing on the crisis at hand, politicians have focused on taking away the rights of Iowans and pushing policies that would only set us back as a state.”
“As we mourn the lives lost, we now know that many of these deaths could have been preventable,” said Charlie Wishman, president of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “We should honor those who have passed by working to make workplace conditions safe, so that anyone can support their family without the fear of contracting this deadly infectious disease.”
The coalition of Iowa COVID-19 Memorial partners will share more information on upcoming memorial events and plans to recognize the tragic anniversary of March 24th soon.
Iowa COVID-19 Memorial Partners:
Advocates for Social Justice
AFSCME Council 61
Americans for Democratic Action Iowa
Rep. Marti Anderson
Rep. Christina Bohannon
Rep. Sue Cahill
Capital City Pride
Common Good Iowa
Rep. Molly Donahue
Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott
Rep. Chris Hall
Hawkeye Area Labor Council AFL-CIO
Health Care for America Now Iowa
Indivisible Iowa
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Iowa Main Street Alliance
Iowa State Education Association
Rep. Jennifer Konfrst
Rep. Monica Kurth
Lower Drug Prices Now Iowa
No Justice No Peace
One Iowa
One Iowa Action
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa
Rep. Todd Prichard
Progress Iowa
Sen. Amanda Ragan
Sen. Jackie Smith
South Central Iowa Federation on Labor, AFL-CIO
Tax March Iowa
Sen. Todd Taylor
UAW Iowa State CAP Council
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Western Iowa Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Rep. Ross Wilburn
Rep. Cindy Winckler
