Report from ACT UP demo in NYC today

ACT UP/NY and ACT UP/Philadelphia held a great action today that led to the
first arrests of the Republican National Convention in NYC.

A dozen activists stopped traffic in front of Madison Square Garden and
stripped naked, exposing the fact that when it comes to AIDS, "the emperor
has no clothes." Slogans were painted on their bodies that read "Drop The
Dept" and "Stop AIDS Now," while others held banners with the same
message -
one was dropped over one of the trailers parked nearby.

The activists were protesting the Bush administration's refusal to agree
with the proposal of other G7 nations to cancel 100% of the debt of poor
nations - money that could be used to fight AIDS.

While Bush has promised $15 billion over 5 years to fight Global AIDS, poor
nations pay that amount each year in debt payments. Cancelling the debt
would have significant impact on money spent toward health care and other
desperately needed social programs.

After blocking traffic for 15 minutes, the activists were arrested and taken
into custody.

Tons of press were there! Congrats to all.

Mark Milano