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Reposted by Marie Follayttar

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 1d

Meanwhile in Maine, human rights activists delivered bodybags to her Portland office, symbolizing harms caused by her cowardice, labeled "COLLINS: Stop Vought's AIDS Deaths."

She CAN fix this--but she has to stop being complicit, and keep the promise she made to defend lifesaving HIV services.

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Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 1d

🚨BREAKING:🚨 AIDS activists arrested occupying Senator Collins' DC office, demanding she stop GIVING IN to Russ Vought's illegal & deadly withholding of global HIV funding.

See: healthgap.org/press/aids-a...

Simultaneously, bodybags delivered to her Portland office by Maine activists 👇

AIDS Activists Arrested at Sen. Collins’ Office, Demanding She Reverse Chokehold on Appropriated PEPFAR Funds for Lifesaving HIV Prevention and Treatment

Press StatementFor Immediate Release: October 14 2025Contact: Asia Russell, Health GAP: (267) 475 2645 | [email protected] Koke, Housing Works: (646) 342 9350 | [email protected]...

healthgap.org

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Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 22h

>> to start with, we need to #GetOutTheVought, as per: www.merkley.senate.gov/schumer-merk... so global funding for HIV treatment and prevention can flow without Vought's illegal chokehold

Schumer, Merkley, Murray, Peters Call On Trump Budget Chief Russ Vought To Resign - Merkley

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and US Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice-Chair of the Senat...

www.merkley.senate.gov

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Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 22h

Me in Vox.com on the need for ambitious global roll out of the revolutionary HIV prevention injection lenacapavir--and how Vought's theft of PEPFAR funding & State's Jeremy Lewin's weak approach and ideological bent will sabotage the effort--unless we fight back:

www.vox.com/future-perfe... >>

The only thing standing between humanity and the end of HIV

Even Trump is fast-tracking this innovative new drug. What could go wrong?

www.vox.com

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Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 20d

🚨NEWS today in global #HIV prevention!🚨

Lenacapavir, an HIV prevention shot conferring virtually 100% protection against infection, will be available for $40/yr in 120 countries starting in 2027.

Read www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/h... including bad news/good news/what’s next from me >>

A thread

Philanthropies Strike a Promising Deal to Turn Back H.I.V.

www.nytimes.com

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1h

Thanks friend. 💕

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ticklemebreathless.bsky.social @ticklemebreathless.bsky.social · 1d

Accessibility is absolutely needed to be inclusive. I don't need subtitles but I 100% agree with you here. Let's include everyone who wants to participate by having these kinds of options please!

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 16h

Thank you. Can you teach people? Happy to go over other accessibility issues. Graham’s team was great. They added alt text and captioning. Shenna is mostly accessible but otherwise no one.
I’m now asking janet for 3rd account in 5 years?

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 16h

One friend got twelve texts from janet today. Seems like a story.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 21h

Today.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 21h

The moment Collins voted for Vought she gave him her gavel.

She understood the consequences.

Now she serves the will of Vought, Miller & their overlords not the people.

The consequence of her inaction are measured in body bags around the world.

Joe Sudbay @joesudbay.bsky.social · 23h

In early Feb to @randybillings.bsky.social from @pressherald.com:

“If there are impoundments, I believe it will end up in court, and my hope is the court will rule in favor of the 1974 Impoundment and Budget Control Act,” Collins told the Press Herald this week
www.pressherald.com?p=7422649&uu...

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 21h

Collins has said that PEPFAR funds are not reaching people in need, yet she refuses to use the full power of her position to end the political obstruction and lawlessness while people continue to die. The consequences of her inaction — and of her votes — are measured in body bags around the world.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 23h

How many fundraising texts have you received from @janetmills4me.bsky.social today?

I’ve received 2.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

Can you please make your content accessible on social media @janetmills4me.bsky.social ?

This is the minimum. We shouldn’t have to ask you to add alt text or captions & yet here we are.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

I know that harm is not intended, but it is occurring and when people ask, why not everyone is showing up perhaps it’s because things are not accessible for us. Accessible can mean a variety of things from being able to afford to being able to understand the communication. We need to center access.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

Could you subtitle this please? It is inaccessible for people with disabilities. About 50% of Youth under 30 also like to watch videos with captions. This is why I do not feel included. I had to fight to get ASL when Ezra came to Maine. I fundraiser to ensure that the Portland event has ASL.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

Truly.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 14d

It’s time to show up in our Senators offices and seek support for constituent services.

Need help for Housing ?
Healthcare?
Food?
Taxes?
They made this mess let them feel the burn of it.

During a government shutdown their staff work.

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 14d

55-45, Senate GOP short-term funding bill FAILS.

52 Republicans + Fetterman (D-Pa.), Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and King (I-Maine) vote YES.

44 Democrats + Paul (R-Ky.) vote NO.

It needed 60 votes to pass.

Shutdown hits at midnight.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

I figured if I have access and privilege to make the ask, I will continue to. Last week I asked for the ads around a state referendum that would ensure voting was accessible for people w/ disabilities caption videos. I really care and we shouldn’t have to ask. Digital staff should know better.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

We spend so much time and effort on graphics & images. There is so much intent to reach the people and yet without accessibility the people are excluded.
It is such a simple thing to do & still rarely occurs. Once I learned how I was excluding it hurt and so I committed to asking & educating.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

I won’t either. Thank you for commenting. This is a major deal to our community & needs a reckoning in political communications & all communications.

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The Creatively Maladjusted @tyrotcm.bsky.social · 1d

Missing alt text. A lot of people on here won't share undescribed images as a rule, myself included.

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

“Eyes, nose, throat and groin. We’ve got them all," says Clara Porter, executive director of Prevention, Action, Change who is facilitating workshops in self-defense for Wabanaki women.

www.mainepublic.org/courts-and-c...

Set back amid DEI crackdown, Wabanaki women take on violence crisis by learning self defense

The Trump Administration has taken aim at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and the effects are being felt by tribal communities that are grappling with issues such as violence against indigeno...

www.mainepublic.org

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 1d

Vought is withholding money from Petfar that keeps people alive who have hiv and aids.
So we’re reminding Susan Collins that our lives are precious & she has the power to act as Chair of Appropriations to demand Vought release the funding & save lives.

Lobstermen Park
Across from the Portland Office of Senator Collins
Tuesday October 14th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
AIDS FUNDING
CUTS KILL
PEPFAR SAVES LIVES
Photo of Susan Collins

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Marie Follayttar @mariefollayttar.bsky.social · 6d

Clearly, we need to define what peace is.

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