From: AIDSVOTER@aol.com Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 11:37:57 -0400 Subject: ACT UP member has a meeting with Al Gore ACT UP DNC MEDIA ALERT Activists disrupt Vice-Presidential Speech Gore meets with ACT UP member, pair discuss Manhattan Project and Needle Exchange for immediate release August 29, 1996 contact ACT UP at 202.547.6780 AIDS activists from ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, disrupted a morning speech by Vice President Al Gore at the final Democratic National Convention's Women's Caucus meeting. ACT UP members interrupted Gore, charging that the Administration had failed to implement its 1992 commitments on AIDS. ACT UP New York's Emily Gordon was the first to confront the Vice-President. She demanded answers to the recent Clinton signing of the Welfare Reform Bill. The half dozen activists displayed signs reading "Welfare Reform Equals Death" and 'ACT UP" as they chanted "Shame" and "Keep your AIDS promises." Secret Service agents seized ACT UP member Wayne Turner, 32, from Washington DC, who was closest to the stage, and escorted him from the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. As convention delegates shouted down the AIDS protesters, staffers hastily arranged a meeting between Turner and the Vice President, which lasted for about ten minutes. In the meeting with Gore, Turner outlined campaign commitments made in 1992, including the promised 'Manhattan-project' to develop a cure for AIDS, support for needle exchange programs, a cabinet -level AIDS Czar to coordinate a national response to the epidemic, and the deadly impact on people with AIDS of the welfare reform measure signed by Clinton. "I told the Vice President that of all the millions of dollars spent on HIV prevention, not one dime can go to a sterile syringe. The President could lift the federal ban on needle exchange funding today, just as the Centers for Disease control has recommended. Failure to do so is murderous." said Turner. The Vice President assured the AIDS activist that those concerns would be passed on the President. Gore also said that a improvements were being made in coordinating AIDS research efforts, though they have not been publicized. Turner was unimpressed by Al Gore's assurances. "Clinton promised a Manhattan-project for AIDS, yet it hasn't materialized. According to Gore its the best kept secret in Washington." added Turner. "It takes more than private assurances and a handshake. The AIDS epidemic demands real leadership, real action." ACT UP chapters will continue to confront candidates demanding they address AIDS issues. "People with AIDS don't have time to wait until after the election. Federal support for needle exchange programs will save countless lives. Its up to Clinton to decide where his priorities lie." comments ACT UP Washington spokesperson Steve Michael, who is HIV+. Turner's partner Steve Michael is on the presidential ballot in Al Gore's home state of Tennessee. His Vice-Presidential candidate is ACT UP New York's Ann Northrop. The purpose of the campaign is to highlight the Clinton administration's failure to fulfill its 1992 AIDS commitments. Note to Editors: We will be posting details of our other actions later this week-end. Among them were a picket outside a Hillary Clinton appearance, zaps at Gay Delegate events, Needle excahnge demonstrations, ACT UP participation in the AIDS vigil in Grant Park, discussion of HRC's refusal to deal with AIDS, info on AIDS speakers (their speeches were censored by party officials) and a discussion between Steve Michael and Carol Rasco (Clinton's Domestic Policy Advisory) as well as commentary calling on Mother's Voices to get tough with Clinton.