I recently ran into Sophy Medina while I was in Albany to livestream a medical freedom rally there on my reporting channel, NYCforYourself. She was at the rally with Bravest for Choice, an organization of FDNY firefighters and EMS workers that is advocating for FDNY employees who were adversely affected by New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Sophy is one of the founders of the group.
Sophy was also the first person I talked with on the New York Mandate Podcast, just over a year ago while NYC’s mandates were in full effect. If you haven’t heard that coversation, you can find it here, along with a November 2022 update she gave me when she had just gotten back on the job.
Sophy gave me this quick update on issues Bravest for Choice is working on now and how she’s doing. (My apologies for the not great audio quality on this one—I’m working to improve my setup for handling noisy environments.)
The May 16 medical freedom rally in Albany drew not only Bravest for Choice but also a number of other organizations who have opposed vaccine mandates and are now also opposing related state legislation. You can see it for yourself here:
Speakers: New York State Senator Alexis Weik: 0:12 New York State Senator Steven Rhoads: 1:40 John Gilmore, Children's Health Defense: 3:38 Attorney Mary Holland: 5:30 John Gilmore, Children's Health Defense: 10:25 FDNY Capt. Brendan Fogarty, Bravest for Choice: 15:38 Attorney Mary Holland: 22:18 Attorney Bobbie Anne Cox: 24:48 Rabbi Zev Epstein: 36:30 Moe Olivier, Educators for Freedom: 51:00 New York State Assemblyman Chris Tague: 1:02:05 Jo Rose, New York Freedom Rally: 1:08:40 Caleb Slater, New York State Senate candidate: 1:21:59 MC: Michael Kane of Teachers for Choice and Children's Health Defense
Before the rally, some of the protesters attended a New York State Assembly Health Committee hearing, where two bills they’re opposing were passed by the committee:
A276, which would give minors the right to consent to treatments and vaccinations against STDs (without consent of a parent or guardian)
A7154/S1531, which would require health care providers who administer an immunization to a person nineteen years of age or older to report such information to the state Department of Health
Those bills are now moving toward a full Assembly vote, and A7154 may even be debated on the floor today. If you’re interested in watching the New York State Assembly debate and vote on current bills, you can watch its livestream and find schedules here.
06/01/23 UPDATE: A7154 was passed by the New York State Assembly today and is now headed to a Senate vote.
New York Mandate Podcast Update: Firefighter Sophy Medina