Om Monday, Multiple protesters were arrested after storming House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) office Monday, demanding the California congressman reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, otherwise known as PEPFAR.
Repeatedly shouting, “Pass PEPFAR now McCarthy!”, video shows protesters entering the speaker’s office in the Rayburn House Office Building, not his Capitol office, and sitting down, as they continued to shout. Seen wearing a shirt reading, “HIV-Positive, “ one of the protestors was making his point. Still another sign read, “end AIDS.”
The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) were called to intervene. USCP arrested seven protesters for “unlawful entry ” in their statement, they said-
“This morning, multiple individuals were demonstrating inside a House Office Building,” U.S. Capitol Police told the New York Post. “After the demonstrators refused to cease demonstrating, USCP then arrested the 4 males and 3 females for unlawful entry.”
-U.S. Capitol Police
Organized by two groups, Health GAP and Housing Works, the protest, in a statement - condemned the lack of national attention to the AIDs issue. Reportedly, CEO Charles King, of Housing Works was among those arrested.
Executive Director of Health Gap, Asia Russell while being arrested posted on social media-
“NOW: 7 activists including Housing Works CEO @HWCharlesKing and @HealthGAP at @SpeakerMcCarthy’s D.C. office, calling on him to PASS PEPFAR NOW with a clean 5-year authorization.
-Executive Director of Health Gap, Asia Russell
Housing Works, CEO King said in a statement, sharing an image of the arrests-
“PEPFAR has saved millions of lives. It is criminal for some members of Congress to treat it as a political football. “AIDS isn’t over until it’s over for everyone. PEPFAR has been essential to helping people in developing countries flatten the curve of HIV transmission.”…“The United States has committed to the international goal of ending AIDS by 2030, and we cannot do that if PEPFAR is threatened,”
-Housing Works, CEO Charles King
According to the Washington Post, lawmakers have until September 30 to provide additional funds to the program, which is credited with saving an estimated 25 million lives. Some Republicans, however, are not in favor of replenishing the program over suspicions that it is being used to “indirectly support abortions,”
The program continues to be dogged by accusations that its funds are helping prop up abortion providers, a charge first publicly leveled in a report, in May, from the conservative group, the Heritage Foundation and amplified by Rep. Christopher H. Smith (N.J.), an antiabortion Republican who chairs a key House panel. As a result, lawmakers have spent months wrangling over whether Congress will reauthorize the program for five years, for one year or not at all.
Obviously, intended to support the bill and gain the attention of Congress, Health GAP shared a video of the protest, praising those who continued to shout as they were arrested. The group exclaimed-
“As activists from @housingworks and @HealthGAP are arrested in an act of civil disobedience in Speaker McCarthy’s office, a reminder that @PEPFAR exists today because of brave activist direct action targeting duty bearers. Proud of activists!”
-Health GAP Activists
Many across social media, wondered if these activists would get the same treatment as some of the January 6 protesters, some of whom ended up in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D) CA office. Since this nation seems to have an ongoing double standard, it remains to be seen, how hard the law will be on these individuals. Stay tuned.
“We who in engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.