FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2008

Immigrant Communities to Flood City Council Oversight Hearing About Dangerous Lack of Translation Services at Pharmacies for Millions of NYers who Need Them
 
Diverse immigrant consumers and advocates to join the NY Academy of Medicine and legislators to describe the breadth of this public health threat and its tragic impact
 
IMMIGRANTS WILL TELL THEIR STORIES, SHARE A REPORT WITH TESTIMONIES FROM IMMIGRANTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF MEDICAL CONFUSION AND ERROR, DESCRIBE A CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE NY STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND ADVOCATE FOR A CITY-WIDE LAW TO ENSURE ALL  NYERS ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR MEDICATION REGIMEN.
 
WHAT:   City Council Oversight Hearing, then press conference on steps of City Hall featuring community members describing their experiences of discrimination at pharmacies throughout the City.
 
WHEN:   Monday, June 16
              10am – City Council Hearing
              12 noon – Press Conference
 
WHERE: Hearing: City Council Hearing Room in City Hall
              Press Conference: Steps of City Hall
 
WHO:     Members and staff of Make the Road New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Lawyers from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and other advocates, as well as Public Advocate Gotbaum and City Council Member Eric Gioia.
 
*** PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ****
Interviews with community members/advocates in English, Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, French, Arabic available on request