New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 23: Education Paraprofessional Jo Rose

“My parents came here from the Dominican Republic, and this country is supposed to be the last free nation standing. And that's why people from all over the world come here—because of the freedom, because of the economical opportunities. . . . We felt like we had to fight for this country. We had to fight for our freedoms because there's nowhere else to run but America.” - Jo Rose

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In this episode of the New York Mandate Podcast, I talk with Jo Rose, who was working as a paraprofessional in the New York City public school system when the pandemic began. She was fired in October 2021 after she refused to take a COVID-19 vaccine.

Jo Rose is one of the founders of New York Freedom Rally. She has been a leader in the anti-mandate movement, organizing and speaking at countless protests, marches, and rallies.

Jo talked with me about her early opposition to pandemic measures, how losing her job affected her personally, and how she first found like-minded people gathering in Union Square, where we met for our conversation.

She also talked about how psychological tactics, racial politics, and partisanship have been deployed to divide and control the public, how the freedom movement fits into the political landscape, and where she sees things heading—both for herself and for the movement.

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More from Jo Rose:

Follow Jo Rose on Twitter: @jospeakstruth_

Here are some links related to things we talked about during the episode:

New York Freedom RallyThis group has been organizing protests against vaccine mandates since they were first introduced in New York City. Jo Rose is one of the founders of New York Freedom Rally.

Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International DevelopmentThis 2010 scenario planning report was produced by the Rockefeller Foundation and Global Business Network. It presents four hypothetical future scenarios “that allow us to imagine, and then to rehearse, different strategies for how to be more prepared for the future.” One of them is the “Lock Step” scenario Jo Rose mentioned. It’s described in the report as “a world of tighter top-down government control and more authoritarian leadership, with limited innovation and growing citizen pushback.”

United Federation of TeachersThe UFT is the union that represents teachers in the New York City public school system.

New York City Department of EducationThe DOE manages New York City’s public school system, which is the largest in the United States.

Announcement of NYC Department of Education Employee Vaccine Mandate This is the August 23, 2021, announcement of the vaccine mandate for New York City Department of Education employees by then Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter and Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi.

Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to Require COVID-19 Vaccination for City Employees and Certain City ContractorsThis is the order that former Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued on October 20, 2021 requiring New York City municipal employees and contractors, including teachers, to be vaccinated.

NYC Vaccination Requirement: WorkplacesThis is where you can find current information on New York City’s workplace vaccination requirements.

About the New York Mandate Podcast

The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of vaccine mandates in New York City. I’ll be talking with workers who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts.

In late 2021, the city introduced a series of requirements for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio.

Current mayor Eric Adams continues to support the mandates, and they now extend to most working people in the city of New York. Private sector employers are required to affirm that their employees have been vaccinated, and public sector employees of city agencies have been terminated or put on unpaid leave for failing to comply with the vaccine requirement.

The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice.

Join the Conversation

Have you lost your job, been put on leave, or lost opportunities to work as an independent contractor as a result of your decision not to comply with a New York vaccine mandate? Did you take a vaccine against your wishes in order to keep your job? Please get in touch with me at [email protected].