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Teri Mills's avatar

Dear Defenders of Democracy,

I urge everyone of you to please sign this petition, recognized the week in Newsweek and that now has over 47,000 signatures. We echo Senator Murray. FIRE RFKJr. NOW! https://www.change.org/p/rfk-jr-must-be-removed-before-more-damage-is-done-before-more-lives-are-lost

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Deborah A. Squires's avatar

Just signed, thank you for this link.

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Mingo's avatar

I signed also. As a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 41 years this is endangering the health of the nation. We have many vulnerable people who would benefit with the administration of vaccines. It's called preventative medicine.

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Laurie Hidy's avatar

Signed!

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Purobi Phillips's avatar

Done.

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Jim Kennedy's avatar

thanks -- just signed

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virginia arthur's avatar

Signed. Thank you for this link.

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Thomas's avatar

Signed

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Betsy's avatar

I also just signed!

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Deborah Potter's avatar

Thanks. I also signed the Stand up for Science petition calling for his resignation (link in this issue of HC). https://www.standupforscience.net/rfk-impeachment-citizens-petition

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Teri Mills's avatar

I did a while back and have shared that too.

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Susan Dieterlen's avatar

Signed and shared. Also Stand Up for Science's Fire the Quack! rubber duck delivery to Congress. Can't find a general link for that suitable to share here, sadly, just emails and Bluesky posts.

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Dr. Steven Quest's avatar

I will be calling my elected representatives again tomorrow to insist that they work on getting the lunatic RFK Jr out of our government immediately.

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Diane Matza's avatar

Amazing letter

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Betsy's avatar

I agree.

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Anne Bear's avatar

Note the pronouns with his signature. Legendary.

Thanks for the inspiring news, Simon. Needed that tonight.

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Susan Dieterlen's avatar

Yeah, I too heard the implied "f*ck you" in those pronouns. What a great man! His anti-fascist grandfather would be proud!

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Barbara Perra's avatar

You're welcome for the almost weekly emails to Sen. Patty Murray and Sen Cantwell, requesting then demanding removal of HHS Secretary Kennedy, JR.. I have already included Sen. Schumer and Sen Thune in said emails. Maybe it's time to move up the ladder to DJT (alias Stephen Miller)

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John Payne's avatar

Beautifully written letter. I well remember how eager I was to get the COVID vaccine as early as possible in 2020, and have gotten every booster since. Now, at 63, and thankfully healthy, I'll be ineligible. The letter highlights how capriciously and ignorantly this decision was made. The rest of what's going through my mind right now is unprintable. I'll be calling tomorrow.

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Moishe Swift's avatar

Regardless, go to the pharmacy and select a reason on the list. Physical limitations. You're on corticosteroids. Most of these pharmacists won't care. If they do care, go elsewhere.

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Sun's avatar
5hEdited

Same here, John Payne. And it was efficiently and compassionately delivered at a mass vaccination site near me, courtesy of my state’s excellent National Guard, serving in the capacity they were meant for.

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Millie Polli Haskell's avatar

Millie Polli Haskell...Thank you for sharing this information with us tonight Simon. Dr. Daskalakis has a lot of Courage. We definitely have to find a way to Rid ourselves of RFKJr.

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Jan Brown's avatar

This letter is an example of honor, integrity and ethics. The incompetence and politicization of the Dept which is supposed to keep us healthy is in fact taking actions which will lead to illness and deaths. Sec Kennedy should be forced out immediately.

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Janet Edelstein's avatar

What a moving and emotional letter. What a mess this administration is making of our country! Hopefully, this act of courage will encourage others to speak out against all the horrors of this administration!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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Patrick Schelling's avatar

I’ll call tomorrow too. He’s going to kill millions of people.

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Barbara Perra's avatar

Wrote thank you note to Dr. Daskalakis at: ddaskalakis@gmail.com Hasn't bounced back so hopefully he will receive it. Tried his .gov address which did bounce.

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Henry Bachofer's avatar

While it's a no brainer that Sec. Kennedy be fired, that's not going to happen. My question, tho, is for Dr. Daskalakis: really? You accepted the appointment. You should have known what those appointing you stood for ... we did. It wasn't exactly secret. So, no, I don't welcome Dr. Daskalakis as some kind of hero. Too late.

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Karmama's avatar

Respectfully disagree. Those who have persevered at the CDC dumpster-fire were the firemen running into the burning building to save whatever they could, for the sake of public health.

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ArcticStones's avatar

I too disagree. Karmama’s description is spot on.

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Cynthia Erb's avatar

I think public resignations are received tradition for indicating structural failure of an institution or some kind of extreme malfeasance. This sets off alarms for the public, and hopefully Congressional investigations.

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SW's avatar

you know this how?

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Deborah Potter's avatar

From my perspective, the voice of Dr. Demetre Daskalakis has been a unique and courageous one, a challenge to this administration. His resume includes: Former Associate Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Former Deputy Commissioner at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Former Medical director at The Mount Sinai Hospital; Former Assistant Professor at NYU School of Medicine. https://www.cdc.gov/about/leadership/ncird.html and https://www.pri-med.com/globals/faculty/d/daskalakisdemetrec

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Henry Bachofer's avatar

I respect the disagreement and regret my intemperate words. I also concur both with the assessment that Dr. Daskalakis has made valuable contributions over the course of his career. And I agree that resignation is a time-honored form of protest. Further, I appreciate the incredibly difficult position that federal employees — who swore an oath to "support and defend the Constitution ..." — now find themselves in. My comment was directed more at the "welcome to the ferocious opposition" comment. I have found myself in similar positions in the past albeit in private sector organizations.

The resignation of Debra Houry, Daniel Jernigan, Jennifer Layden, and Demetre Daskalakis is welcome and I hope we hear more from them—and hope for Congressional hearings. So is the refusal of Dr. Monarez to step down as CDC director in response to the "notice" that she has been fired.

I do worry that the chaos within the CDC will harm public health. Clearly, it is now up to the States to actually take on an even greater responsibility for protecting public health. I hope all of the CDC staff who find it impossible to fulfil their responsibilities will find opportunities to do so at federal and state levels.

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Karmama's avatar

Yes, courage begets courage.

Just as Gov. Newsom has stepped up to lead by example, here is Dr. Daskalakis bravely evincing integrity - as is Dr. Monarez.

This "administration" (aka regime) is on a homicidal trajectory that must be stopped. Medical people who bear witness to suffering should be leading the charge.

As a nurse practitioner who cared for patients enduring high risk pregnancy, I endorse the Covid vaccine to keep ALL persons out of the hospital, out of the ICU and yes out of the morgue.

FIRE HIM.

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Angus Maitland's avatar

Thank you Simon. It is incredibly important to share these details and spread them widely. It is clear that the political leaders of DHS etc are requiring scientists to rubber stamp their non scientific proposals. Ironic that the only mandate now will be one which requires a great swath of people to forgo vaccination.

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Judy Powers's avatar

Shared on FB and calling ALL my reps tomorrow.

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MariElena's avatar

Question: can Canadians sign?

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virginia arthur's avatar

Do it! Your address will be on there. I have signed petitions for situations in other countries.

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Virginia Shultz-Charette's avatar

I would. Covid and other infectious diseases do not stop at border crossings and ask for permission to enter.

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