Nearly 30 people
were arrested in an act of civil disobedience Thursday
after 50 body bags were lined up on a New York City
street to represent the number of people who die of
AIDS complications every day. Venerable activist group
ACT UP--AIDS Coalition to Unleash
Power--commemorated its 20th anniversary by reenacting
its first protest, which took place 20 years ago,
also in New York City's financial district. Upward of
800 people showed up to march down Wall Street,
calling out to health care providers and pharmaceutical
companies.
Cathy Renna, a
publicist who represents the group, told The Advocate
that demonstrators received positive reactions from
bystanders.
"Gilbert Baker,
who was the creator of the rainbow flag, made this
giant banner that was so big, it took nine people to hold
it," she said in a phone interview. "It said, 'Worst
President Ever,' but had a picture of him and the
flag, and it actually looked very patriotic. We got
quite a few cheers from people on the street walking by."
Renna described
the marchers as diverse, reflecting the population of
people who contract HIV now, including women, Latinos, and
African-Americans. One of the groups involved with
organizing the campaign was the Metro New York
Physicians for a National Health Program, or PNHP.
Protest participants hold ACT UP banner on top of
Wall Street bull statue in NYC's financial district
Oliver Fein,
chairman of PNHP, said the partnering of these two groups is
crucial to furthering the cause of health care and
affordable housing for HIV patients and all Americans.
Both ACT UP and
PNHP are lobbying for a nationalized, single-payer health
care plan for all Americans.
"Single-payer
says that every resident of the U.S. should be covered,
no fancy eligibility criteria based on age, or ability, or
employment," Fein said. "For instance, we have Medicare
limited only to people over 65. So we would argue that
if you live in the U.S., you should have a
single-payer program. It would be similar to Medicare,
but it would be extended to all Americans. Instead of being
over 65, the only criteria is that you live here."
(Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)
Photo by Leah McElrath Renna
