During World AIDS Week on Friday, Dec. 5, protestors from the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC), faculty and students from St. Michael’s and Champlain Colleges, and Vermont Cares gathered outside Sen. Patrick Leahy’s office. The rally was to encourage Leahy to “Fix it and Fund it” referring to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Be the hero, it's in your hands
Over 125 students, faculty, and members of the community gathered at the top of Church Street and marched to Leahy’s office. The rally was Batman-themed because Leahy is a huge Batman fan.
Decked out in Batman masks, participants chanted phrases such as, “Innocent victims of war deserve more,” and “Batman called with a list of demands; be the hero, it’s in your hands,” among others.
“Batman is a terrific insight; it shows Leahy as an individual with Leahy the politician.” Trish Siplon, professor of political science says. “He has the ability to make a huge impact on millions of people’s lives.”
The group presented Leahy with a Batman mask and cape asking him to be the global health superhero, says sophomore Alexis Regan, member of SGAC.
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Andrew Driscoll and Ryan Beck led the rally down Church St. to Leahy's office at 199 Courthouse Plaza.
(Photo by Kaitlyn Coakley) |
Leahy wasn't present at the rally. Chuck Ross, Leahy’s chief of staff accepted the Batman mask and cape on his behalf. The protestors asked that Leahy justify the one line he has as an actor in the Warner Brothers flim “The Dark Knight,” and “not be intimidated by thugs.”
Ross explained that the active and informed protestors are the reason Leahy loves being a Vermonter. He also went on to say on Leahy’s behalf that he will fight for what’s effective, reasonable and possible considering Washington, D.C. is currently in a fiscal mess.
The rally was also in support of Campaign 2000, a St. Michael's campaign that successfully gathered 2000 signatures in support of the Civilian Claims Act. This act was written by Leahy and is supposed to provide monetary compensation for the innocent victims of war. The over 2,000 signatures were presented during the rally to encourage Leahy to push the act through.
The rally was deemed to be a success by those who participated.
“I thought it was great, the big question now is what happens?” Siplon says. “Does it get translated into pushing hard for full funding? That’s all we can hope for.”
Fund it, fix it, fund it
The are two main programs funding the global AIDS pandemic. PEPFAR is an initiative that implements treatment and education to combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa and other threatened regions. The second is the Global Fund, which is the United Nations strategy to combat AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis globally.
The United States is one of the wealthiest countries and donates one-third of the money that goes toward helping with the AIDS pandemic, says Kate Bailey, sophomore and organizer of events during World AIDS Week. Other wealthy nations are expected to match that of the United States to make up the other missing two-thirds of donations.
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Siplon presented Ross with Leahy's cape and mask, reminding Leahy about his obligation to global justice.
(Photo by Kaitlyn Coakley) |
PEPFAR has been approved by legislation but it not yet fully funded. $48 billion is being requested to be distributed over five years to countries in need of funding to fight the epidemic. Leahy is a high-ranking member of the appropriations committee and leader of the foreign operations sub committe which gives money out of the budget to PEPFAR, Bailey says.
“He has been a very outspoken supporter of PEPFAR,” Bailey says. “We think and hope that he will allocate money; we’re asking him to be our superhero, the voice of the people who have nothing.”
The only foreseen roadblock is the huge deficit due to the economic crisis, she says. There might not be enough money in the budget, she says.
“Wall Street is being bailed out for jobs but these are peoples' lives,” Bailey says. “There are 28 million people in sub-Sahara Africa who have AIDS; their lives depend on it rather than a Christmas bonus.”
If PEPFAR isn’t fully funded treatment clinics and prevention campaigns would be abandoned and shut down, Regan says.
“This issue is not something you can become a part of and get into and then just walk away from,” Regan says.
Answer the call
This is not the first year that St. Michael’s has held a rally during World AIDS Week, however this is the first time the rally is a national day of action.
St. Michael’s had a lot to do with making it a national day of action, Siplon says.
There are members of congressional appropriations committees in Massachusettes, Indiana, and Ohio who will be addressed by protestors. The good intentions of the protest will be kept to address the issue of AIDS, Bailey says.
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"Fix it, fund it, fight AIDS now!" the crowd chanted.
(Photo by Kaitlyn Coakley) |
The SGAC chapters who don’t have senators on appropriations committees will participate in a national call-in day, where they call congressmen requesting that PEPFAR be funded fully, Bailey says.
Protestors hold the hope that it will turn into a priority within the White House.
“It is an advocacy project to make change; it needs to be made political,” Bailey says.
Having the rally on a national day of action will raise awareness, but the goal is to have people go to the next step to change policy, Siplon says.
“People need to be given the opportunity to change policy,” Siplon says, “We need to make people aware and give them the avenue to do something concrete.” |
