MEDIA ADVISORY: PRESS CONFERENCE
Contact: Matthew Kavanagh, 202-486-2488 or matthew@healthgap.org

Activists Living with HIV Unfairly Prosecuted — Threatened With 6 Months in Jail for Protesting AIDS Funding Cuts, Syringe Exchange Ban

In Contrast, D.C. Mayor Gets Slap on Wrist for Separate Protest on Same Day

Legal experts, medical providers, and AIDS activists will hold a press conference Wednesday on the case of several HIV+ people and activists who were arrested in April at a demonstration against Republican cuts to AIDS funding and ban on syringe exchange funding in the District of Columbia. The activists were arrested the same day as D.C. Mayor Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown — who were protesting the same Republican budget “riders” that hurt District residents and sovereignty.

But unlike the Mayor and Chairman, who were released on a $50 fine, these activists are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office, threatened with 6 months in jail, and a criminal record. The press conference will document failures of the Obama Administration’s US attorney’s office to follow through on promises in the case and the failure of the US Attorney’s current policy of drug-testing people engaged in non-violent acts of civil disobedience.

WHEN: Wednesday February 8 / NOON

WHERE: Steps of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

WHO: Daniel Brito, Government Relations, Drug Policy Alliance
TBD, National Lawyers Guild
Christine Campbell, DC Fights Back & DC Community Coalition (people living with HIV groups in DC)
Charles King, President, Housing Works (the nations largest minority-controlled HIV service organization)
Antonio Davis, AIDS activist being prosecuted, ACT UP Philadelphia
Matthew Kavanagh, AIDS activist being prosecuted, DC Fights Back & Health GAP.