May 5 Rally Urging Biden to Commit to a Desperately Needed Global Vaccination Plan
Hundreds of Activists to Push Biden to ‘Share the Recipe’
WHAT: In response to the crisis in India and worldwide, dozens of organizations, including Public Citizen, Oxfam and Amnesty International, and hundreds of activists will rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on May 5, calling on President Biden to urgently share COVID-19 vaccine recipes with the world and commit to a global vaccination plan to ensure that every nation and every person has access to a vaccine.
Advocates will specifically call on President Biden to:
- Launch and invest in a vaccine manufacturing program to help meet the global need;
- Share vaccine recipes with the world; and
- Support the temporary waiver of World Trade Organization intellectual property rules proposed by South Africa and India and backed by 100 other countries.
The event will feature a live performance by Long Live GoGo. The D.C. event follows dozens of similar events around the country (Boston, New York, Atlanta and Bay Area, Calif.) and abroad, demanding greater global access to vaccines.
WHY: According to The Economist Intelligence Unit, people in developing countries may not receive a COVID-19 vaccine until 2024 unless vaccine supply and manufacturing are significantly increased.
To date, over 3 million have died globally. Recent devastating news from India and the COVID-19 crisis paints a grim picture and raises great concern about vaccinations and their distribution, restrictions, deaths, and an overwhelmed healthcare system on the brink of collapse. To amend the proposed 2024 timeline and expedite returning to some level of normalcy, eventually eliminating the virus once and for all, the vaccine recipes must be shared and shared immediately. Like wearing masks, sharing the recipes will mitigate further harm, transmission, and death. The time is now for the government and Big Pharma to practice what they preach and prioritize life and global health over profit and sales.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 5, 2021; 2-4 p.m. E.T.
In the event of rain, the rally will go on as planned.
WHERE: National Mall (4th and Madison NW)
WHO:
Speakers:
Peter Maybarduk, Public Citizen
Rosie Davis, Founder, Yellow Heart Memorial
Pauline Muchina, Public Education and Advocacy Coordinator, Africa region, American Friends Service Committee
Karishma Mehta, Candidate for Virginia House of Delegates District 49
Paul O’Brien, Amnesty International
Emira Woods, Advocacy Network for Africa, Africans Rising for Justice, Peace, and Dignity
Kymone Freeman, Co-founder, WeActRadio
Dr. Yolandra Hancock, Medical Director, CRC Health & Wellness Group; Professor, George Washington University
Gregg Gonsalves, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health (tentative)
Luis Gil, Senior Researcher, Knowledge Ecology International
*Additional speakers to be announced*
Organizing Groups:
Free the Vaccine, Public Citizen, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM), Advocacy Network for Africa, American Friends Service Committee, Africa Faith and Justice Network, Africans Rising for Justice, Peace, and Dignity, Amnesty International, COVID Survivors for Change, Faces of Covid Victims, HealthGAP, Justice is Global, Long Live GoGo, Metro DC DSA, Oxfam America, Physicians for Human Rights, PrEP4All, Right 2 Health Action, SPACEs in Action, Social Security Works, Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (USA), Center for Popular Democracy, Treatment Action Group, and Yellow Heart Memorial
Press interested in attending the event, please contact Mike Stankiewicz at mstankiewicz@citizen.org.