WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Today, as National Nurses Week comes to a close, Opportunity Wisconsin interviewed Angelina Wyatt, RN, a Milwaukee nurse on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. The conversation underscored the growing concern from healthcare workers across Wisconsin and the United States that President Trump’s administration is failing to lead during this crisis.
It’s been 75 days since President Trump said we’d soon have zero cases in the U.S. We now have over 1.3 million cases and over 81,000 deaths - more deaths than any other country in the world.
When asked what message she would send to President Trump, Wyatt replied, “There’s no plan, cure, or vaccine. Healthcare workers are dying because we don’t have the proper PPE. If you don’t have a medical background, please listen to the people who do.”
President Trump refuses to listen to experts as he pushes dangerous fake science, including a claim that coronavirus will just magically disappear “with or without a vaccine.” Not only is this making the crisis worse, President Trump’s bad medical advice could endanger Wisconsinites, who want to see more progress before they return back to normal life.
“I would not consider myself a hero, because this is what I do. This is my job. This is what I signed up for,” said Wyatt. “However, not having the proper protection is like being thrown out into a slaughterhouse. We need PPE to be able to do our job efficiently and effectively.”
President Trump has not utilized the federal government’s entire authority under the Defense Production Act, leaving many essential workers, like Angelina, without the necessary PPE.
“Without the right equipment, we risk infecting others. It’s tough knowing the very thing you signed up for - to help people - is potentially harming them. For you to have that on your conscience everyday does something to you psychologically,” said Wyatt. “The administration needs to enforce the [Defense Production] Act and produce more equipment for our frontline workers.”
WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE.
About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.
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