Subject: ACT UP members meet with Weld at DC Home Rule Demo
From: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 18:57:49 -0400 (EDT)

Chance encounter on Capitol Hill
ACT UP members and Weld meet at rally for DC Home Rule

Washington, DC  AIDS activists with the group ACT UP Washington, DC met
briefly today with former Massachusetts Governor William Weld (R), who was
making rounds on Capitol Hill to for nomination as Ambassador to Mexico.
 Weld has been denounced by arch-conservative Senator Jesse Helms (R) from
North Carolina, for his support of medical marijuana for AIDS, cancer and
other patients, and clean needle exchange to reduce the spread of AIDS among
injection drug users.  The encounter with Weld occurred outside the Hart
Senate Office building, where dozens of activists were gathering to protest
Congress' most recent encroachment on DC home rule.  

 Activist Steve Michael described his conversation with Weld as friendly, "We
will stand up to Jesse Helms, and stand with any politician with a strong
record of support on AIDS."  ACT UP Washington has issued a nation-wide alert
urging supporters to contact members of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee by phone, fax, and e-mail.  

 Yesterday, former presidential candidate Senator Richard Lugar (R,IN) sent a
letter to Foreign Relations Committee Chair Helms to hold hearings on Weld's
nomination.  Last year, Lugar endorsed needle exchange programs when
questioned by ACT UP Washington members at a town meeting in Concord, New
Hampshire, during the nation's first presidential primary.

 For a copy of ACT UP Washington's Action Alert, contact Steve Michael at
202.547.9404.

ACT UP Washington DC
409 H Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.547.9404