Friday, November 20, 2009
KICK-OFF: Involuntary Outpatient Commitment = Forced Drugging = Torture
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release
News from We the People
For more information contact: Lauren
Tenney, 516-319-4295
WE THE PEOPLE Kicks Off: "Involuntary Outpatient Treatment Equals Forced Drugging Equals
Torture" People who have experienced psychiatric atrocities, escaped the system, human rights activists and allies
to hold two press conferences to kick off statewide campaign for Kendra's Law sunset
NEW YORK, NY (11/19/2009)(readMedia)--
WE THE PEOPLE, born out of the murder of Esmin Green, present two media information events that will kick-off statewide efforts
to stop an extension of involuntary outpatient commitment legislation known as "Kendra's Law" which is to sunset
June 2010.
Hundreds of millions of tax-payer dollars have been spent on Kendra's Law legislation, which was first
enacted in 1999 after a young woman - Kendra Webdale - died when struck by a train after being pushed off a subway platform
by Andrew Goldstein. The law allowed for people who were accused of "mental illness" but not considered a present
danger to be court ordered to receive outpatient drug treatment. Andrew Goldstein was an individual who had been institutionalized
and drugged. After he was released from lock-up he sought voluntary outpatient treatment. However, he was repeatedly turned
away by "mental health" treatment providers. He received no compassion, - no support, - no services, - not even
the medications he was accustomed to and was willing to take. He was refused help- and then pushed Kendra Webdale - and then
got attention. He would not even have qualified or been subject to the law named after his victim. This law is just an attempt
to draw attention away from the real problem, which is lack of real help and assistance from providers, and a knee-jerk response
of social control and blaming the victim.
WE THE PEOPLE are survivors and escapees of the current treatment methods
of organized psychiatry. WE THE PEOPLE maintain that too many people have been victimized by experimentation, drugging, and
electro-convulsive "therapy". They continue to state national statistics that people who have been treated as "mentally
ill" die an average of 25 to 30 years younger than their contemporaries.
WE THE PEOPLE view the "mental
illness industry" as cruel, costly, powerful and profitable. As citizens of the United States we maintain that the human
rights of ALL people must be protected and promoted. When the needs of people are met, force is not necessary. Forced drugging
and unwanted "treatment" is torture. We will be heard.
WHO: We the People kick
off Statewide campaign for non-renewal of Kendra's Law, which is to sunset, June 2010
WHAT: Kick off of statewide campaign for non-renewal of Kendra's Law which is to sunset, June 2010
8 AM Press Conference
12:30 Action with Press Conference to immediately follow. Photo-op
WHEN: Friday November
20, 2009 at 12:30PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) WHERE: Columbia Law School Jerome Greene Hall 435 W. 116th Street New York, New York 10027 NOTES: These are two events, a press conference
at 8 AM and then an Action at 12:30 PM with a press conference to immediately follow.
Websites for viewing audience:
www.stopforcenow.org
going live 11/20: www.noioc.org
3:56 am est
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