Seize Control of the FDA
Seize Control of the FDA took place on October 11, 1988. This was ACT UP’s first national action and was coordinated by an ad hoc group of ACT UP members from around the country called ACT NOW (AIDS Coalition to Network, Organize and Win). Approximately 1,500 activists from around the U.S. descended on the headquarters of the Food and Drug Administration in Rockville, MD to demand that the FDA speed up the research, development and approval of drugs for AIDS. The afternoon before in front of the Health and Human Services building in Washington, DC, ACT UP held a “mock trial” of various people who impeded the AIDS movement and Vito Russo delivered the second version of his “Why We Fight” speech.
Documentation
This tape was made by Jean Carlomusto and Gregg Bordowitz of the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) Audio/Video Department for the GMHC cable access television show Living with AIDS and documents ACT UP's first national action, "Seize Control of the FDA," October 11, 1988. (NYPL Tape #1040 or # 1167-A)
The second iteration of Vito Russo's famous "Why We Fight" speech at the Department of Health and Human Services on October 10, 1988, the day before Seize Control of the FDA. The speech was followed by a mock trial conducted by Carol Leigh, the Scarlot Harlot, with witnesses including Margie Eduardo and Ferd Eggan. Shot by Testing the Limits. (NYPL Tape #1723)
Footage by the Testing the Limits Collective of the various pickets, chants and political theater at the Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Rockville, MD on October 11, 1988. (NYPL Tape #1726)
Footage by the Testing the Limits Collective of the various pickets, chants and political theater at the Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Rockville, MD on October 11, 1988. (NYPL Tape #1727)
Footage by the Testing the Limits Collective of the various pickets, chants and political theater at the Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Rockville, MD on October 11, 1988. (Tape is silent from 04:37 - 12:52. The problem is in the original tape.) (NYPL Tape #1728)
Footage by the Testing the Limits Collective of the various pickets, chants and political theater at the Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Rockville, MD on October 11, 1988. (NYPL Tape #1729)
Footage by the Testing the Limits Collective of the various pickets, chants and political theater at the Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Rockville, MD on October 11, 1988. (NYPL Tape #1730)