Many great rallies took place on August 31, 2015. Thank you to everyone all over the United States and Canada who participated! Here is a sample of how some of the rallies went.
Fed Up! Local Rallies Turnout
California
Sacramento
Location: California State Capitol
Key notes: Amy Cooper spoke about her sons’ death and mental health journey and not knowing he was using opiates and overdosed, Sherry McHume spoke about challenges to getting medication assisted treatment for her son, Tyler Ryder in recovery spoke about barriers to services, Sandra spoke about the medical community perception of providing services to an addict and stigma creating a barrier to getting needed medical care. The medical director from Harm Reduction Services spoke about the political climate surrounding getting better funding and effective treatment and then opened the mike to the audience to share. Many patient, parents and love one spoke about how thankful they were that we put on a Rally to honor those who lost their lives to addiction and overdose. There was a Narcan demonstration, Q&A, then provide training and Rx of Narcan.
Canada
Hamilton, Ontario
Sponsoring Organizations: Hamilton’s Public Health Unit, Hamilton Overdose Prevention Education (HOPE)
Location: Hamilton City Hall Forecourt
Key notes: Advocates for the Reform of Prescription Opioids (ARPO) / Fed Up! Coalition and other community agencies provided educational materials and paid tribute to those whose lives have been affected by overdose.
Florida
Broward County
Location: Calvary Chapel Midtown Campus
Sponsoring Organizations: Learn to Cope, StoppNow, Steered Straight – Florida, TAM – Florida,FARR – John Lehman, Calvary Chapel – Celebrate Recovery, YPR Florida, IMF – Ian Mautner Foundation, Sober World, Drug Abuse Foundation – Delray Beach, Broward County United Way, and, Palm Beach Coalition on Substance Abuse.
Key notes: Speaking and/or in attendance – Representative Kristin Jacobs, Representative George Moriatis, Representative Katie Edwards, Representative Evan Jenne, Representative Bobby DuBose (provided proclamation), FL Attorney General (Pam Bondi) Office: Julie Hogan, Esq, State Attorney 17th Judicial Court (Broward): Peter Holden, Broward Health CEO: Dr. N El Sanadi, Fort Lauderdale Mayor: Jack Seiler, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner: Bruce Roberts, Town of Davie Commissioner: Caryl Hattan, “God Squad”: Dr. R Osgood (School Board member), Broward Sheriff Office: Don Maines, Fort Lauderdale Police: Captain Dana Swisher, Wilton Manors Police: Sergeant Cohen, BSO Oakland Park: Detective Bill Schwartz, BARC: Paul Faulk, BCMA: Cynthia Peterson
Kentucky
Louisville
Location: Federal Courthouse
Link to news story on Louisville rally – Click here
Massachusetts
Taunton
Link to details on Taunton rally – Click here
Michigan
Waterford
Sponsoring Organization: Mi HOPE, FAN, Crossing Over Ministries
Key notes: Billy Pfeiffer (Crossing over Ministries) spoke at the Waterford rally.
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Sponsoring organization: Steve Rummler Hope Foundation
Location: Federal Building, Downtown Minneapolis
Key notes: Attendees of the Minneapolis rally were trained in Naloxone and got to take home their own Naloxone kit to potentially save a life one day.
Link to news story on Minneapolis rally – Click here
New Hampshire
Nashua
Link to details on Nashua rally – Click here
North Dakota
Fargo
Sponsoring organization: Fargo/Moorhead Good Neighbor Project
Location: Veteran’s Memorial Bridge
Key notes: Click here for news story on Fargo rally
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Sponsoring organization: Lou & Rhonda Rainaldi (In Memory of Amber Mersing)
Location: Stewart Avenue Lutheran Church in the South Hills of Pittsburgh
Key notes: click here for a link of all the speakers at this event
Pittsburgh
Location: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Link to news story on Pittsburgh rally – Click here
West Virginia
Morgantown
Link to details on Morgantown rally – Click here
Follansbee
Link to news story on Follansbee rally – Click here