Phoenix Rising is delighted to support the demands being made in the ME/CFS community’s first-ever global day of protest …
Campaign platform #MEAction is organising a global day of protest for ME and CFS, with a campaign called “Millions Missing,” reflecting the millions of patients “missing from their careers, schools, social lives and families,” the millions of dollars “missing from research and clinical education funding that ME should be receiving” and the millions of doctors who are “missing out on proper training to diagnose and help patients manage this illness.”
The campaign quickly outgrew its original focus on the US capital and now includes patient-led protests on May 25th at US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offices in Washington DC, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle and Boston, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offices in Atlanta.
Protests will also take place on the same day in London, UK and Melbourne, Australia, with a Canada-wide online protest. Organisers are still sought for US locations with other HHS offices (New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Kansas City, and Denver).
This is the first time that the ME/CFS community has taken part in a multi-city campaign. Patients too sick to attend can take part virtually, including by sending their shoes to represent themselves at the protest.
A list of demands will be presented to each country’s government health department protesting the lack of government funding for research, clinical trials and medical and public education on ME/CFS.
Phoenix Rising is proud to support the aims of the protest. The demands of the US protestors are:
1. Increased funding and program investments
Funding and program investments commensurate with the disease burden.
2. Clinical trials
Clinical trials to secure medical treatments for ME/CFS.
3. Accurate medical education
Replacement of misinformation with accurate medical education and clinical guidelines.
4. A serious commitment
HHS leadership, oversight and a serious commitment to urgently address ME/CFS.
Further details of the demands and their rationale can be found here.
The action marks a year since #MEAction was established by documentary-maker Jen Brea with other ME/CFS patients, during which it has grown into a major force in the community.
The past year has been one of extraordinary change and promise for ME/CFS and the time feels right for patients to push hard at doors that may already be partly open. We wish the protest every success.
Join in!
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