Unnatural Disaster in Puerto Rico: Reportback from the Frontline

FREE / DONATIONS ENCOURAGED

Jason Negrón-Gonzales, an experienced trauma nurse and trained community organizer, recently returned from Puerto Rico where he was doing post-hurricane medical response and relief work for one week. He will be joined by Amanda Bloom, a long time activist and Physician Assistant who spent 25 years working in a community clinic in East Oakland and is also returning from the relief effort. Working with groups on the ground, they treated people in some of the most neglected and devastated communities on the island. Join us for a reportback.

It’s been 27 days since hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, and the slow-moving disaster is still unfolding. Most of the island continues without electricity, huge areas without fresh water, and the response from government has been weak and insufficient.

Jason and Amanda will share photos of post-hurricane Puerto Rico, discuss the current conditions on the island, share stories of the response and relief work, and situate this destruction within the context of climate change, colonialism, and disaster capitalism.

Co-sponsored by Bay Area Boricuas, the School Of Unity and Liberation, the Movement Generation Justice and Ecology Project, and Climate Workers.