Aids Activists Protest During Obama's Visit to Philadelphia
Philadelphia (CBS3/KYW 1060) Local AIDS activists gathered at Broad and Arch Streets on Monday afternoon and marched to the Convention Center where President Obama was speaking, in an effort to urge him to keep his campaign promise of more money dedicated to provide medication to over 3,000 people in this country still on waiting lists for treatment.
KYW's Michelle Durham reports that the activists say, in Philadelphia, there are at least 138 homeless people with HIV/AIDS who are waiting for access to medications.
For those in the shelter system, they say, shelters limit the access to drugs or don't allow residents to bring them in.
For Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia pastor Jeffrey Jordan Pickett, this cause is personal:
"Well, I am a person with HIV/AIDS. I've been positive for 10 years, but today I'm a healthy person because I had access to medications. I think everyone should have access to drugs. Drugs shouldn't be a status symbol."
Clifford (no last name given) of "Act Up Philadelphia" lost his wife two years ago to what he says was a combination of HIV/AIDS and cancer:
"Mr. President, HIV/AIDS is a war just like any other."
