AIDS TREATMENT NEWS - December 14, 2005
John S. James

Summary: "The next step is state-wide coalitions in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C."

Eight caravans of people with HIV and their allies traveled cross-country to Washington, D.C., for the Campaign to End AIDS' (C2EA) four days of action November 5 to 8. Organizers say about 500 people made the journey, including 50 who walked from New York City, and thousands attended events organized by C2EA and local communities along the way. Charles King, CEO of the New York City-based AIDS organization Housing Works, says the goal was to build a national movement with strength in small towns and throughout the country, including the South and the Midwest as well as the coasts. "We need to harness the energy we've built for the last 11 months, and solidify it at the level of states and territories," he says. "The next step is state-wide coalitions in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C."

The four days of action kicked off with a march through DC's Anacostia neighborhood, instead of the protest-as-usual option of taking it to the Mall or another landmark, ignoring the local reality of America's highest HIV rate. African-American residents welcomed the protesters, who were mostly people of color themselves, and asked for information. "This demonstrates the hard work of grassroots organizing at its best -- which has been cast aside," said Sean Strub, founder of POZ magazine, at the march. He emphasized the lack of support from major AIDS institutions, many of which have few HIV positive board members. "People with HIV have to be at the table at all levels," he said.

King says C2EA is currently revamping its steering committee, which will be made up of representatives from statewide coalitions. "Each state and territory has to go through an organizing process and turn over a C2EA web page, and democratically elect a representative to the steering committee," he says. "We'll be deciding in the next couple of weeks what the next big action will be -- but we do know it will be based in the states and territories." Members of C2EA's youth caucus have proposed organizing a national youth caravan next summer.

To connect with C2EA organizers near you, visit http://www.CampaigntoEndAIDS.org or call 877-EndAIDS (1-877-363-2437).

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