HUGE ALBANY AIDS DEMONSTRATION ~ APRIL 9th, 2002
Dozens of AIDS groups are fighting in Albany for $12 million in new state AIDS funding targeted directly at the needs of communities of color. This would be the largest increase in AIDS funding in the past decade.
Housing Works, NYAC, Harlem United, the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, the Latino Commission on AIDS, People of Color in Crisis and others are planning a large demonstration and civil disobedience on Tuesday, APRIL 9 in Albany, before the state budget is final.
The groups involved are aiming for 500 people to take part in the demonstration and for a civil disobedience/direct action on the steps of the Capitol with over 150 people to be arrested. We have pledges from dozens of legislators, ministers and executive directors to take part in the direct action and be arrested.
The arrests will be negotiated with the Capitol Police, and we expect that people will be released within two or three hours with misdemeanor charges.
We will arrange lawyers for all arrestees, who will negotiate reduced or dropped charges for an expected court date a week or so later. This is a fairly "easy" arrest, so those staff and clients who have been thinking about doing direct action
should jump right in. CD trainings will include information on how to check warrant status, etc. for those who may be at risk.
Charles King of Housing Works and other EDs will lead Civil Disobedience/Direct Action training across New York during the month of March. Four trainings are currently scheduled:
Housing Works 594 Broadway:
Thursday, March 14, 3:00 - 5:00 * 6th Floor
Housing Works 743-749 East 9th Street:
Friday, March 15, 3:00 - 5:00 * Downstairs Dining Room
Housing Works 320 West 13th Street:
Thursday, March 21, 3:00 - 5:00 * Large Conference Room
Housing Works East New York
2640 Pitkin Avenue Brooklyn:
Friday, March 29 3:00 - 5:00 * Cafeteria
Additional trainings will be scheduled Uptown, in the Bronx, on Long Island, at People of Color in Crisis in Brooklyn, and in Albany. Other locations considered if enough interest is expressed.
For more information on the action, contact Michael Kink/Mark Hayes in our Albany office at 518-449-4207
kink@housingworks.org
or terri smith-caronia at x1296 at 594 Bway.
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