Protestors hit FDA for AIDS drug policies

Abstract

Protesting the criminally inadequate response of the Food & Drug and the Reagan in general to the urgent need for drugs to combat AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), hundreds of angry demonstrators from across the U.S. last week besieged FDA's headquarters outside Washington, D.C. Chanting 42,000 dead today— Where was the FDA? Release the drugs now, No more red tape, Let us choose, We die—they do nothing, and We're gonna seize control, some 600 activists, by police count, launched a daylong series of civil disobedience actions around the 18-story building. Intensively covered by the media, the protestors crossed police barriers, blocked streets, set off smoke bombs, occupied the roof over the main entrance, and put up signs proclaiming Federal Death Administration and The government has blood on its hands—One AIDS death every half hour. Prominent were photographs of President Reagan labeled He kills me and AIDSGATE, and of Vice President George B...