Landmark Civil Rights Complaint Against Discriminatory Pharmacies to Expand in Scope

April 21, 2008

Contact: Theo Oshiro, 718-418-7651 x218 or 347-806-0125 or Andrew Friedman, 718-418-7690 x206 or 718-809-7158 (English and Spanish)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21st, 2008

8 new complainants to join a pending civil rights complaint against discrimination at numerous pharmacies throughout NYC with the NYS Attorney General's office.

The original complaint was filed on July 26th, 2007 on behalf of 5 limited English proficient NYers who faced discrimination at 4 different pharmacies. The total number of pharmacies currently accused of violating the law to increase to 25.

COMPLAINT SEEKS TO ENFORCE THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE ROUTINELY DENIED LEGALLY MANDATED TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES AND PUT AT RISK BY MEDICINES WITH ENGLISH-ONLY LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS.

Updated Complaint with more examples of discrimination will be delivered by hand to Attorney General by immigrant community organizers.

WHAT:
          o Press conference featuring community members describing their experiences.
          o Release of updated report detailing laws violated by many pharmacies and real-life stories of how people suffer.
          o Updated complaint will be delivered by hand to Attorney general.

WHEN:    Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 11am.

WHERE: In front of NYS Attorney General's office - 120 Broadway, NY, NY

WHO:      Members and staff of Make the Road New York, New York Immigration
                Coalition, Lawyers from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

*** PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ***
Interviews with community members and copies of written testimony and report available on request