Body Politic advocacy to continue through #MEAction

Image Description: A red background with slight paper texture to it is displayed with Body Politic mustard yellow in a wave shape at the bottom. Above the background there are three white illustrations of forearms with hands in a fist rising from the bottom of the image. At the top, center is the text: We are stronger together. It is flanked on both sides by the Body Politic and #MEAction logo

Body Politic is thrilled to announce that our advocacy work will continue through #MEAction! Body Politic is actively working with #MEAction to preserve the foundation of advocacy and community relationships that Body Politic has built these last three years in partnership with organizations and leaders in disability justice and chronic illness activism. 

Body Politic fought hard for people with Long COVID for three years, particularly those from marginalized communities, fueled by small grassroots donations and largely volunteer labor. We have tremendous gratitude and alignment with the ME community who also fought so hard for those with Long COVID at the beginning of 2020, educating and informing patients about pacing, post-exertion symptom exacerbation, associated comorbidities, and so much more.

Because of the serious overlap in symptoms we know that we are stronger if our demands and tactics align, so that our communities can build power together to get the support, care, and treatment we desperately deserve. 

#MEAction is very pleased to welcome those from Body Politic into their Facebook Support groups for those who are looking for a social media-based support option: either the #ME Action Living with ME Support Group or the #ME Action Long COVID-19 support group. We are still working out the best next steps to best maintain the advocacy we have built, but we know that with #MEAction, we will be able to accomplish so much together. We will update everyone in the coming months as our plan develops. 

While our strategies must shift in this new phase of the work, Body Politic remains committed to its mission: Through a global network of COVID-19 patients, chronic illness allies, and health and disability advocates, Body Politic continues to break down barriers to patient-driven whole-person care and well-being, particularly for historically marginalized communities by facilitating peer-support, cultivating patient-led research and public education, and leading community-based advocacy.