Contact: Johanna Kichton, press@peoplesaction.org, 202.660.0605
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Justice is Global Director Tobita Chow today released the following statement in response to Ambassador Katherine Tai’s announcement of U.S. support for the TRIPS waiver, which would suspend patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines so countries like India and South Africa can access live-saving medication:
“The White House’s decision today has the potential to help save countless lives and end this crisis on a global scale. We’re grateful that President Biden has made good on his campaign promise, and we applaud his leadership to protect people instead of the profits of Big Pharma. We hope to see the TRIPS waiver move forward effectively and efficiently. We look forward to further action to scale up vaccine production and distribution as quickly as possible to ensure that countries around the world, and especially those in the Global South, have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“We thank the tireless effort of grassroots organizers here in the U.S. and across the globe who rallied at the homes and offices of elected officials, held people’s shareholder meetings in front of pharmaceutical companies, and took to the streets in support of global vaccine justice.
“This result is a testament to the power of global solidarity. When people in the U.S. recognize our shared destiny with people across borders and oceans, we can work together to take on some of the most powerful corporate lobbies in the world and win.”
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Justice is Global is a project of People’s Action to win a more just and sustainable global economy and defeat rightwing nationalism. People’s Action is a national network of 40 state and local grassroots, power-building organizations in 30 states, united in fighting for justice. We operate the largest progressive rural organizing project in the country. People’s Action and its member organizations coordinated one of the biggest distributed organizing programs in rural areas this election season.