"God gave us power to make smart decisions, to cure diseases, to alleviate suffering" - President Barack Obama

We are Watching and Tired of Waiting!

AIDS WATCH RALLY
Nat'l Association of People With AIDS, Campaign To End AIDS, DC Fights Back
Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Freedom Plaza Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 408-0305
Email: info@campaigntoendaids.org

Description
C2EA, in collaboration with NAPWA and DC Fights Back, will have a rally April 27 at 1:30pm on Freedom Plaza - 2 blocks from the White House and across the street from DC's Mayor's office. The theme of the rally is We are Watching and Tired of Waiting!

In the 17 years of AIDSWatch, tens of thousands of American citizens have died of HIV & AIDS while waiting for our leaders to answer the call. We will demand that our nation's leaders complete a plan that provides an outcome-driven strategy to end the HIV & AIDS epidemic in the United States. We will also demand that the communities that make up the core of the epidemic across the country be given opportunity for meaningful input and leadership in its development - for example, AIDSWatch host city Washington DC has the highest HIV infection rates in the nation with no comprehensive plan on the horizon. If we end the epidemic in the Nation's Capitol, we can end it anywhere.

We will also celebrate the creation of the Denver Principles. Created in 1983, the DP demanded that individuals living - and dying - of HIV & AIDS would be treated with respect and dignity regardless of sex, sexuality, gender, race, and religion. In 2009, as people are living - and still dying - it is more important than ever to take our place in leading the fight in ending this epidemic. With Ryan White Care Act reauthorization, the creation and implementation of a national HIV & AIDS strategy, and a historic revamping of national healthcare, people living with HIV & AIDS must show our faces, voices, and actions to ensure urgent action.

Registration is open for the 17th annual AIDSWatch 2009! If you haven't registered, go to www.napwa.org and click the AIDSWatch logo.

You are invited to come to Washington DC April 27-29 along with hundreds of advocactes from across the country to tell Congress that this is our year! We must demand that our leaders develop and outcome-driven strategy to end the HIV & AIDS epidemic in the United States.

AIDSWatch

Registration is now open for the 17th annual AIDSWatch. Come to Washington, DC, April 27-29 and tell Congress that this is our year! Change provides an opportunity to develop an outcome-driven strategy to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States.

Change is on the minds of everyone here in Washington D.C. For the AIDS movement, change presents an opportunity for comprehensive and quality access to health care and treatment for all people living with HIV, reducing HIV incidence by at least half by funding programs that teach proven evidence-based strategies for reducing HIV-risk, and investing in innovative research to uncover new prevention technologies while aggressively advancing our efforts to once and for all identify a cure for HIV/AIDS.

We invite you to join hundreds of AIDS advocates from across the country who will be traveling to the nation's capital to speak to their elected officials with a strong voice, united in support of a solid federal commitment to AIDS programs. Now is an especially important time in Washington as the Obama Administration and the new Congress develop their first appropriations packages and consider issues such as health care reform.

Please join AIDSWatch, the largest annual constituent-based federal HIV/AIDS advocacy and education event in the U.S. Participants include people living with HIV and AIDS, their families, friends, care providers, and other advocates. AIDSWatch is a project of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). Many other national organizations concerned about HIV and AIDS also participate in the planning, funding and support of this event. AIDSWatch activities are designed to complement regional and national administrative, appropriations, and legislative initiatives ongoing throughout the year. This project depends on the generous contributions of those concerned with HIV and AIDS in America. Please join NAPWA or make a donation today to sustain the voice of positive leadership.

AIDSWatch 2009 At-A-Glance:

Monday, April 27
Morning:
AIDSWatch Advocacy training (exact time to be provided)
Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives
1201 17th Street, NW

Afternoon:
Rally (details to be provided)

Evening:
Reception (details to be provided)

Tuesday, April 28

All day:
Hill visits with elected officials
Capitol Hill

Wednesday, April 29

All day:
Hill visits with elected officials
Capitol Hill