For Immediate Release:

30 November 2007

Contact:

Elizabeth Anderson-Hoagland

202-821-3342

elah@gwu.edu

WHO:

Save Lives: Free the Condoms Coalition, a non-profit grass roots organization under the auspices of the Student Public Health Association at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. The Coalition fights to improve condom access for everyone.

WHAT:

On World AIDS Day the Coalition is protesting at a local CVS store that continues to lock up its condoms, creating significant barriers for consumers trying to purchase contraceptives.  CVS has said earlier this year that condoms would no longer be locked in the District; despite their pledge, condoms continue to be locked in at least one store in the area.  Furthermore, reports have come in that CVS stores in New York City and Detroit, Michigan are locking their condoms.  The Coalition asks that CVS adopt a written national policy stating that they will not lock condoms in their stores.  Save Lives requests that CVS instead use click boxes or power wings, two anti-theft measures that still allow consumers to privately access condoms.

WHEN:

The protest will occur at 12 noon on Saturday, December 1, 2007.

WHERE:

Marchers will gather at the Georgia Avenue/Petsworth metro station on the green and yellow lines beforehand, before marching to the CVS store on 5227 George Avenue, NW.

WHY:

The purpose of the protest is to draw attention to CVS’ actions that create significant barriers for consumers trying to buy condoms.  In a city with the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the nation, condom access is crucial to saving lives.  Save Lives asks that CVS adopt a national written policy that it will no longer lock condoms in its stores.

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