POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => AIDS Activism => Topic started by: Andy Velez on February 28, 2012, 08:20:24 am
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On March 28th, in celebration of its 25th Anniversary, ACT UP in conjunction with many other groups is returning to Wall Street, where its first demonstration was held in 1987.
This time the focus is going to be on demanding the adoption of the Financial Speculation Tax, the adoption of which would effectively finance essential HIV/AIDS and other health needs currently in jeopardy or being denied.
If you are going to be in NYC on that Wednesday or you can get here, come join us! ACT UP meets every Monday night at the LGBT Community Center on West 13th Street. Your help is needed and all are welcome.
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On March 28th, in celebration of its 25th Anniversary, ACT UP in conjunction with many other groups is returning to Wall Street, where its first demonstration was held in 1987.
This time the focus is going to be on demanding the adoption of the Financial Speculation Tax, the adoption of which would effectively finance essential HIV/AIDS and other health needs currently in jeopardy or being denied.
If you are going to be in NYC on that Wednesday or you can get here, come join us! ACT UP meets every Monday night at the LGBT Community Center on West 13th Street. Your help is needed and all are welcome.
25 years? How marvellous!
I think we all owe a considerable debt of gratitude to the ACT UP (and Queer Nation) activists who did so much to make our lives worth living.
I know I speak on behalf of many of us when I say a part of that gratitude is properly yours Andy.
So thank you.
And may you continue to inspire activism in our community.
A gezunt der in pupik! :-*
MtD
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Thanks very much, Matty.
Being a part of ACT UP since the first Wall Street demo in 1987 has without a doubt been a life transforming experience personally. And a continuing education, no kidding.
Thanks again and a blessing on your keppie, mahzel tov mahzel tov.
In solidarity forever,
Andy
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Thanks for the heads up Andy, I have Wednesday, March 28th circled on my calendar. I will get the demonstration's time soon enough so as not to be late.
Jody
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Without the actions of ACT UP in those early years, there would have been even more suffering and certainly more deaths. As one of the people spared by the advent of AZT and the arrival of those first antiretrovirals, I've always believed those meds only came about because ACT UP pushed - and pushed hard when and where it was necessary. Without their voices, their passion, their activism, who knows how many more years and deaths would have gone by before things finally turned around.
Thank You Andy, and Happy Birthday ACT UP!
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Thanks Michael and Jody! Great to have your support.
Time for the demo is not yet decided Jody, but I will post it as more unfolds. We're aiming to make this a big one.
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See, all it takes to get me to log in to these forums, after god knows how long, is to organize a good demo!
Hope all you New Yorkers will put this in your calendar. I have no idea what any of you look like (although I do vaguely remember Andy ;) ), so if you see me, please come up an introduce yourselves.
I posted to my blog yesterday about some of the needs for this demo:
http://blogs.poz.com/peter/archives/2012/02/have_you_given_up_hope_for_a_cure.html
Hope to see some of you there!
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My first month after moving to chicago was a turning point for me about how I would view myself as an HIV Positive person .
I met several people involved with Act Up Chicago and attended a few meetings . It opened my eyes to many issues I never had considered before and it had an immediate effect on me . For the first time I felt empowered instead of feeling like a victim .
At the time I was open and honest about my HIV status but after my exposure to the members of Act up something in me changed that was hard to define , from that moment on I used my infection as a teachable moment when I discussed it with people I met from day to day . I was and still am in awe of what that group of people were able to do to make make things better for people living with Aids .
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In order to allow for a greater mobilization, the date of the ACT UP 25th Anniversary Action has been changed to Wednesday April 25th. 25 for 25. It will be held in conjunction with many other groups including OWS, Housing Works, Health Gap and more. If you can join us we need everyone's help and participation.
During the weeks leading up to April 25th, ACT UP will be meeting at the LGBT Community Center on West 13th St. on Mondays at 7pm. Join us and be a part of this historic event in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
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I changed my calendar to circle Wed., April 25th Andy so we will find out if it is a morning or afternoon demo as we get closer. Thanks as always for your efforts.
Jody
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Im so happy to see some support and coordination with Occupy. I posted in here back in October about the Occupy movement, and I tried to find likeminded activists to join me in starting a POZ working group by posting a thread here. I was attacked, mocked, and my own hiv status and motives were called into question. There were people on this site who told me "Occupy has nothing to do with Aids activism" It really threw me for a loop, and I have not been back since. I just got an email today about the Apr. 25 action, linked with Occupy. Thank you, and I'll see u there!
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I received this from the SIN (Strength in Numbers) group regarding the Wednesday, April 25th march on Wall St. at 11 AM......
I'll be there, it's really important with so many services like HASA and many others that are getting their budgets cut and reworked - pushing case workers into retirement, and we need to bring attention to the issue that drug companies are mainly focused on treatments which bring in huge profits and are not active in looking for a Cure. The fact that many are now comparing AIDS to diabetes is outrageous and insulting to our brothers who have passed on, we owe it to them and ourselves to demand more research for a Cure (and there is some promising research). A Cure would save hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children around the world and ease the monetary burden of those living in the USA. You and I can do something about it ! See you there :)
> Dear fellow SINners,
>
> JOIN ACT UP's 25th Anniversary Direct Action!
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> ACT UP and OCCUPY
> TAX WALL STREET!
> END AIDS!
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> April 25, 2012
> At 11am
> Massive demonstration and march.
> Starts at City Hall (Broadway and Murray Street)
> Ends at Wall Street
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> ACT UP is calling for a small tax (0.05%) on Wall Street transactions and speculative trades in order to raise the money needed to end the global AIDS epidemic and provide universal healthcare in the US.
>
> More info: 212-966-4873 | www.actupny.com | info@actupny.com
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> Facebook ACT UP NY Page | www.facebook.com/actupny
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> Twitter: @actupny | #taxwallst | #endaids
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> It would be great to see more SINners supporting this action, as ACT UP continues its fight for a cure.
>
> Hope to see you there!
> Vernon
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I've blocked out the date on my calendar for this too. If anyone needs a ride in from the western part of New Jersey, please PM me (perhaps we can carpool).
I'm going to try to make the final Monday night meeting next week if I can get an early enough start to get into the City for a 7 pm meeting.
Assurbanipal, (who's hoping to spot Jody in the crowds)
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I'm actually in NYC up until that day before this event, but have to be back in Filthy for a doctor's appointment that if I had to re-schedule would take another 2 months to get.
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PM me for my cell phone # and hopefully we can hook up.
Jody
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ACT-UP, TAX WALL STREET - END AIDS...ACT-UP - CURE AIDS !!!!!!!!
It was great to see Peter Staley (and his adorable and very sweet dog Stella), Tim Horn, Andy Velez, Chris (Assurbanibal) and so many other great folks at today's rally for health care for all and economic fairness and justice in our city and nation.
It was important, as always to unite and be heard and thanks to all who took the time and effort to be there and make their voices heard. This job ain't over.
Jody
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ACT-UP, TAX WALL STREET - END AIDS...ACT-UP - CURE AIDS !!!!!!!!
It was great to see Peter Staley (and his adorable and very sweet dog Stella), Tim Horn, Andy Velez, Chris (Assurbanibal) and so many other great folks at today's rally for health care for all and economic fairness and justice in our city and nation.
It was important, as always to unite and be heard and thanks to all who took the time and effort to be there and make their voices heard. This job ain't over.
Jody
PICS !!!!
April 25, 2012
Occupy and ACT UP Protesters Converge on Wall Street
ACT UP joined the Occupy movement to protest changes to New York City’s AIDS housing policies and to demand a tax to end AIDS. Nine activists were arrested early in the morning after chaining themselves together to block Wall Street and 10 HIV housing activists were arrested outside City Hall trying to set up a house, Gay City News reports. In February 2011, the Human Resources Administration announced it would no longer help pay the full brokers’ fees for HIV/AIDS Service Administration (HASA) clients looking for housing and would only issue vouchers (not checks) to pay landlords. And in December, the HRA announced HASA could refuse permanent housing to people who did not pass drug tests and who refused prescribed treatment. Activists are also marching to advocate for a “financial speculation tax,” or FiST, that would involve taxing speculative trading on Wall Street and using those funds for HIV services. The demonstration is part of the 25th anniversary commemoration of AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP).
Looked like a great turn-out !!
http://www.flickr.com//photos/pozmagazine/sets/72157629535618162/show/
Ray