Ahead of important votes on AIDS funding in the House and Senate, activists took control of the Capitol Rotunda this morning at 10am.
According the Politico.com, 26 activists were arrested and charged with unlawful assembly.
"We have tried to work through standard advocacy channels, but were just told to be patient and that there was no money right now," said Project spokeswoman Christine Campbell, on her way downtown to bail out her colleagues. “It was time to up the ante and make some noise."
I posted yesterday about the movement of AIDS Activists calling on leaders in congress to fulfill US commitments to fight AIDS at home and abroad. This is civil disobedience is a testament to the commitment of these activists in the fight to save the lives of those most in need.
Another money quote from the Activists:
“We can bailout banks and car companies but there’s no urgent response to pressing AIDS challenges," she said. “We think that’s untenable.”
The Senate Foreign Relations committee is scheduled to mark-up the Foreign Operations Subcommittee appropriations bill this afternoon at 2pm. The House has scheduled a floor vote on their version of the Foreign operations bill this afternoon. Dangerous amendments are expected to be offered that would cut funding to FY09 levels flat-funding Global AIDS and Global Health initiatives that are attempting to scale up treatment, prevention and care programs. On the upside, a champion of Global Health issues, Nita Lowey (D NY-18), will offer an amendment to increase funding for global health and maternal health programs.
I only hope both chambers get the message today.
Call your Senator and Represenative 202-224-3121
Tell them to:
Fully Fund PEPFAR!
Fund the Global Fund
[Update}
Rollcall.com front page article with photos of the demonstration
Here is link to article if they take off the front page.
The activists, who come from a coalition of groups, could be heard yelling “clean needles save lives” as they were being handcuffed.
Eustacia Smith, a volunteer with Health Global Access Project, said Obama had made a “number of promises” on AIDS funding and so far had not delivered.
Setting off a media storm:
CNN ticker
The group, Health Global Access Project, wants increased HIV/AIDS funding in the health care plan, including more funding for global AIDS programs and AIDS housing programs, they said in statement.
Time.com
LA Times AP article
[UPDATEX2] C-Span is carrying the House debate right now.
Update X3
YouTube video