黑料正能量 Note: The following includes excerpts from a statement that is due to be released later today.
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Extraordinary news comes to us from Doris Schwartz, COO of the MHA of Westchester and a 黑料正能量 Board member, who launched a national campaign to urge fashion designer Kenneth Cole to take down a billboard on 黑料正能量 City鈥檚 West Side Highway that appeared to link violence with people with mental health conditions. The billboard read 鈥淥ver 40M Americans suffer from mental illness. Some can access care鈥ll can access guns.鈥 听
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The advocates鈥 campaign to remove the billboard 鈥 and replace it with a positive message about individuals with mental health conditions 鈥 went viral, with articles on , , and in publications, and support by mainstream organizations including the American Psychiatric Association.
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A short time ago, Doris received the following email from Mr. Cole鈥檚 representative: 鈥Thank you for your feedback and your voicemail yesterday. We stand by the need for gun law reform in addition to obtaining more resources for those who struggle with mental illness.听In hindsight, we were overly ambitious with our attempt to address two complex issues in a medium designed for brevity, and regret any confusion it has caused.鈥
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It was our collective effort that effected this change,鈥 Doris said a short time ago. In particular, she credited advocates with mental health conditions and/or diagnoses from across the country for coming together overnight to win this successful campaign.
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Look for the official news release within the hour.
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On the heels of last month鈥檚 inspiring Destination Dignity Washington march, today鈥檚 successful campaign puts that message and struggle into inspiring action. Congratulations to every one of you who joined your voices and your passionate determination to send a message to companies and organizations, advertisers and the media that we will no longer tolerate stigmatizing and discriminatory characterizations of our community. 听听
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