Gray Panthers
Encyclopedia
The Gray Panthers was an organization in the United States
founded by Maggie Kuhn
in 1970, in response to her forced retirement
at age 65. The group focused on health and other issues.
As of 2005 the organization supported a single-payer system of health-care, as well as an increase in welfare
payments, supporting peace activity, lifelong public education, the rights of workers, reproductive rights
, abolition of the death penalty, legalization of same-sex marriage
, the legalization of medical marijuana, and environmental activities through advocacy, education and action.
. In 1972, due to their growing numbers and success, a New York talk show
producer nicknamed them the Gray Panthers. The name was later adopted by the group. As of 2010 the group operated under a system of participatory democracy
designed to allow their members to have a say in the group’s direction.
Previous office locations included Philadelphia, PA, while the national office of the Gray Panthers moved to its current location in Washington, D.C.
in 1990.
In 1992 former national Head Start administrator Jule Sugarman
accepted the position of Interim executive director of the Gray Panthers, then on the brink of insolvency, to help the group reorganize its by-laws, its board of directors, and its fund raising.
Although their slogan was “Age and Youth in Action,” the group was seen by many as meeting the needs of only senior citizens.
The national Gray Panthers organization was a collection of local networks. The group gained official NGO (Non-governmental Organization) status at the United Nations in 1981. Seven Gray Panthers representatives participate in various UN committees and conferences.
The Gray Panthers celebrated their 40th Anniversary "Year of Activism" in 2010.
. In 1974, during a picket of two hundred nuns with wheelchairs and crutches outside the annual American Medical Association
(AMA) conference, four Gray Panther members dressed as medic
s rushed to the conference’s main entrance to make a house call
on “the sick AMA.” Another member dressed as “the sick AMA” was assisted by the “medics” from the entrance to a nearby ambulance. The medics attempted to resuscitate and examine his heart, but were distracted by pulling out wads of dollar bills.
The organization filed several suits targeting pharmaceutical companies whom they alleged to have blocked competition over generic drug
production and a class action law suit against Bristol-Myers Squibb
, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, for alleged damages the company inflicted by delaying competition for BuSpar
, a brand name anti-anxiety drug. The suit was the first of its kind to seek damages for the unlawful blocking of generic competition by a drug company.
The Gray Panthers also sued to change Medicare
regulations. The case, Gray Panthers v. Schweiker, occurred in 1980. The group alleged that the way older patients were notified that their Medicare reimbursements were denied was an unconstitutional violation of their due process
rights, arguing that the notification was laden with jargon and thus difficult to understand. While they lost the initial court case, they were successful on appeal.
The group launched "Stop Patient Abuse Now" (SPAN) in 2001. It represented over 125 national, state, and local organizations representing patient rights.
The Gray Panthers also supported other healthcare issues including the legalization of medical marijuana, a patient’s bill of rights, and barriers to stem cell research to be lifted.
The Gray Panthers took a stand on the arms race
during the 1970s and 80s. They asserted that the issue was closely related to health. Recently, they fought the possibility of war with Iran, encouraging its members to contact their legislators in regards to the issue.
. The Gray Panthers see aging as something to be considered positively. In the past, the Gray Panthers united with Ralph Nader's Retired Professional Action Group (RPAG) in order to monitor the hearing aid industry
. The groups joined in 1973, the same year that RPAG released to the public, ‘’Paying Through the Ear," a report documenting acts of unscrupulous sales practices in the hearing aid industry. Furthermore, A National Media Watch Task Force was established by the Gray Panthers in 1973, designed to track ageist stereotyping. Their presence persuaded the National Association of Broadcasters
to create guidelines for monitoring age discrimination in the media and to encourage sensitivity of the media in the matter.
The Gray Panthers advocated house-sharing and intergenerational living and affordable adequate housing for all. In addition, they supported expanding the number of subsidized rental units available to low-income persons.
. The group was outraged at the US government’s reaction to that fact that MCI WorldCom had committed one of the largest corporate frauds in American history. The ad was sparked by the announcement that the federal government had awarded the company a multimillion dollar contract for a wireless network
in Iraq. Controversy arose when it was found out that the money for the ads was raised by Issue Dynamics Inc., a consultancy firm that was acting for Verizon Communications
, one of Worldcom's competitors. The group defended its actions by stating that it had “no objection to using the enemy to bring down the enemy.”
movements. They opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization held that environmental pollution affects mostly people who are poor, women and children, racial minorities and people living in developing countries. It argued that corporations responsible for such pollution should be held accountable for cleaning up their environmental messes. The Grey Panthers advocated that the U.S. government work toward developing alternative energy sources and creating new jobs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
founded by Maggie Kuhn
Maggie Kuhn
Maggie Kuhn was an American activist known for founding the Gray Panthers movement in 1971 after being forced into retirement by the Presbyterian Church...
in 1970, in response to her forced retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
at age 65. The group focused on health and other issues.
As of 2005 the organization supported a single-payer system of health-care, as well as an increase in welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
payments, supporting peace activity, lifelong public education, the rights of workers, reproductive rights
Reproductive rights
Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows:...
, abolition of the death penalty, legalization of same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
, the legalization of medical marijuana, and environmental activities through advocacy, education and action.
History
The organization was initially known as the Consultation of Older and Younger Adults for Social Change. The group’s main goals included changing the mandatory retirement age and seeking an end to the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In 1972, due to their growing numbers and success, a New York talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
producer nicknamed them the Gray Panthers. The name was later adopted by the group. As of 2010 the group operated under a system of participatory democracy
Participatory democracy
Participatory Democracy, also known as Deliberative Democracy, Direct Democracy and Real Democracy , is a process where political decisions are made directly by regular people...
designed to allow their members to have a say in the group’s direction.
Previous office locations included Philadelphia, PA, while the national office of the Gray Panthers moved to its current location in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1990.
In 1992 former national Head Start administrator Jule Sugarman
Jule Sugarman
Jule Meyer Sugarman was a founder of the Head Start Program who also led the program for its first five years.-Early life:...
accepted the position of Interim executive director of the Gray Panthers, then on the brink of insolvency, to help the group reorganize its by-laws, its board of directors, and its fund raising.
Although their slogan was “Age and Youth in Action,” the group was seen by many as meeting the needs of only senior citizens.
The national Gray Panthers organization was a collection of local networks. The group gained official NGO (Non-governmental Organization) status at the United Nations in 1981. Seven Gray Panthers representatives participate in various UN committees and conferences.
The Gray Panthers celebrated their 40th Anniversary "Year of Activism" in 2010.
Tactics
Over the years the Gray Panthers have made use of various tactics, including advertising and guerrilla theaterGuerrilla communication
Guerrilla communication and communication guerrilla refer to an attempt to provoke subversive effects through interventions in the process of communication....
. In 1974, during a picket of two hundred nuns with wheelchairs and crutches outside the annual American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
(AMA) conference, four Gray Panther members dressed as medic
Medic
Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine, especially emergency or first-response medicine, such as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or a military member trained in battlefield medicine. Also the term is used toward a Nurse in pre-hospital care and/or emergency...
s rushed to the conference’s main entrance to make a house call
House Call
Sanjay Gupta MD is a medical-centric news program hosted by CNN's in-house physician, Sanjay Gupta. It typically airs on weekends at 7:30 am E.T....
on “the sick AMA.” Another member dressed as “the sick AMA” was assisted by the “medics” from the entrance to a nearby ambulance. The medics attempted to resuscitate and examine his heart, but were distracted by pulling out wads of dollar bills.
Health Care
Group members Dave Brown and Joao Cunha pointed to the Gray Panthers as instrumental in the effort to popularize health care reform over the past twenty years. Their goal was “to create and fund a single-payer, nonprofit and universal health care system.” They also encouraged a “health consciousness” system as opposed to the current “disease orientation” with its focus on preventative care.The organization filed several suits targeting pharmaceutical companies whom they alleged to have blocked competition over generic drug
Generic drug
A generic drug is a drug defined as "a drug product that is comparable to brand/reference listed drug product in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use." It has also been defined as a term referring to any drug marketed under its...
production and a class action law suit against Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb , often referred to as BMS, is a pharmaceutical company, headquartered in New York City. The company was formed in 1989, following the merger of its predecessors Bristol-Myers and the Squibb Corporation...
, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, for alleged damages the company inflicted by delaying competition for BuSpar
Buspirone
Buspirone is an anxiolytic psychoactive drug of the azapirone chemical class, and is primarily used to treat generalized anxiety disorder Bristol-Myers Squibb gained FDA approval of buspirone in 1986 for treatment of GAD...
, a brand name anti-anxiety drug. The suit was the first of its kind to seek damages for the unlawful blocking of generic competition by a drug company.
The Gray Panthers also sued to change Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
regulations. The case, Gray Panthers v. Schweiker, occurred in 1980. The group alleged that the way older patients were notified that their Medicare reimbursements were denied was an unconstitutional violation of their due process
Due process
Due process is the legal code that the state must venerate all of the legal rights that are owed to a person under the principle. Due process balances the power of the state law of the land and thus protects individual persons from it...
rights, arguing that the notification was laden with jargon and thus difficult to understand. While they lost the initial court case, they were successful on appeal.
The group launched "Stop Patient Abuse Now" (SPAN) in 2001. It represented over 125 national, state, and local organizations representing patient rights.
The Gray Panthers also supported other healthcare issues including the legalization of medical marijuana, a patient’s bill of rights, and barriers to stem cell research to be lifted.
The Gray Panthers took a stand on the arms race
Arms race
The term arms race, in its original usage, describes a competition between two or more parties for the best armed forces. Each party competes to produce larger numbers of weapons, greater armies, or superior military technology in a technological escalation...
during the 1970s and 80s. They asserted that the issue was closely related to health. Recently, they fought the possibility of war with Iran, encouraging its members to contact their legislators in regards to the issue.
Ageism
The Gray Panthers took taken action against ageismAgeism
Ageism, also called age discrimination is stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination...
. The Gray Panthers see aging as something to be considered positively. In the past, the Gray Panthers united with Ralph Nader's Retired Professional Action Group (RPAG) in order to monitor the hearing aid industry
Hearing aid
A hearing aid is an electroacoustic device which typically fits in or behind the wearer's ear, and is designed to amplify and modulate sound for the wearer. Earlier devices, known as "ear trumpets" or "ear horns", were passive funnel-like amplification cones designed to gather sound energy and...
. The groups joined in 1973, the same year that RPAG released to the public, ‘’Paying Through the Ear," a report documenting acts of unscrupulous sales practices in the hearing aid industry. Furthermore, A National Media Watch Task Force was established by the Gray Panthers in 1973, designed to track ageist stereotyping. Their presence persuaded the National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
to create guidelines for monitoring age discrimination in the media and to encourage sensitivity of the media in the matter.
The Gray Panthers advocated house-sharing and intergenerational living and affordable adequate housing for all. In addition, they supported expanding the number of subsidized rental units available to low-income persons.
MCI Worldcom
In 2003, the Gray Panthers took out full page newspaper ads around the country, including The Washington Post and The Washington Times asking federal officials to stop awarding federal contracts to MCI WorldComMCI Inc.
MCI, Inc. is an American telecommunications subsidiary of Verizon Communications that is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia...
. The group was outraged at the US government’s reaction to that fact that MCI WorldCom had committed one of the largest corporate frauds in American history. The ad was sparked by the announcement that the federal government had awarded the company a multimillion dollar contract for a wireless network
Wireless network
Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. It is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and enterprise installations avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection between various equipment...
in Iraq. Controversy arose when it was found out that the money for the ads was raised by Issue Dynamics Inc., a consultancy firm that was acting for Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. is a global broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average...
, one of Worldcom's competitors. The group defended its actions by stating that it had “no objection to using the enemy to bring down the enemy.”
Other Issues
In addition to health care, the Gray Panthers supported both the environmental and anti-warAnti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
movements. They opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization held that environmental pollution affects mostly people who are poor, women and children, racial minorities and people living in developing countries. It argued that corporations responsible for such pollution should be held accountable for cleaning up their environmental messes. The Grey Panthers advocated that the U.S. government work toward developing alternative energy sources and creating new jobs.