Activists to Hex Hochul on Halloween over Healthcare Horrors

WHAT: Hochul’s Pocus (Pass the NY Health Act)

WHEN: Fri Oct 31 @ 9-10AM

WHERE: 919 3rd Ave @ 56th St.

TRAINS: 4,5,6 to 59th. E,M to Lex & 53rd

EVENT LINKS: join the www.facebook.com/events/2419870051743810 | bit.ly/HochulsPocus

**Masks Required**

October 31, 2025 – New York, NY – On Friday, October 31, activists will gather at 9AM outside Governor Kathy Hochul’s midtown Manhattan office to demand that she convene a special legislative session and pass universal, single-payer healthcare in New York state in response to the healthcare price hikes and cuts to care that millions of New Yorkers will face in the coming months.

Advocates from groups like ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power), PNHP NY Metro (Physicians for a National Healthcare Program NY Metro), and Rise and Resist are reacting to the looming expiration of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act that will cause healthcare premiums to spike at the start of 2026, and federal cuts to our public Medicaid and Medicare programs. They champion the New York Health Act, a state bill that will guarantee comprehensive healthcare for all New Yorkers, and save billions, while eliminating premiums, copays, deductibles and the source of medical debt.

On Halloween, activists will grab their witches’ hats and broomsticks and cast spells around a cauldron to support passing the bill, but they’re not afraid to hex Governor Hochul if she continues to stay silent on the New York Health Act.

“Governor Hochul can fix this looming healthcare horrorshow with a wave of her magic wand, but she hasn’t supported calling a legislative vote on the universal healthcare bill even though universal healthcare is supported by 62% of the public and an eye-popping 90% of Democrats, and the bill has majority support in both the Senate and Assembly,”

said Evan Sachs of ACT UP.

Outside Hochul’s office, activists will throw medical bills, pill bottles and other ingredients into a cauldron to cast a spell for the New York Health Act. And they vow to hex the governor if she lets millions of New Yorkers lose their healthcare or see their premiums spike as is predicted with the expiration of federal healthcare subsidies at the end of the year.

“We are holding Kathy Hochul’s feet to the cauldron fire and demand that she call the special legislative session to pass the New York Health Act and protect New Yorkers from these devastating cuts,”

said Morgan Moore, Executive Director of PNHP NY Metro.

Activists plan to keep up the pressure on Hochul and the state legislature until they pass the New York Health Act.

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About ACT UP

Founded in 1987, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. ACT UP currently meets every Monday night at 7PM ET via Zoom. Notes: you will be asked to contribute your first & last name and email address to access online meetings, and KN-95 masks are required for ACT UP NY in person meetings/actions/gatherings. All individuals are welcome!