Copyright 2000 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
The San
Francisco Chronicle
SEPTEMBER 21, 2000, THURSDAY, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. A27; OPEN FORUM
LENGTH: 825 words
HEADLINE:
Enough of ACT UP S.F. Acting Out
BYLINE: Dan
Wohlfeiler, Steve Lew, Hank Wilson
BODY:
HIV IS A
FORMIDABLE ENEMY. So are apathy and battle fatigue. As if they weren't enough,
we now face an enemy within. A tiny group of activists, calling themselves ACT
UP San Francisco, is threatening our efforts to fight HIV.
This renegade
group has nothing to do with the original ACT UP, a group founded in the 1980s
to demand increased resources for prevention, treatment and research. Many have
questioned the tactics of that group, but few doubted its members' commitment
and that they contributed immeasurably to the fight against HIV.
ACT UP
San Francisco stole the founders' name, attempting to appropriate the original
ACT UP's credibility. ACT UP San Francisco promotes the myth that HIV does not
cause AIDS. Its bumper stickers and Web site proclaim "AIDS is over."
The group discourages people from taking the HIV test. Group members
routinely and violently disrupt community forums where individuals come for
information on AIDS prevention and on new treatments, and to make informed
decisions for themselves. ACT UP San Francisco responds to scientific data with
half-truths. It commits communitywide medical malpractice by saying that we
don't need HIV medications, even though many of us are enjoying healthier and
longer lives because of them.
ACT UP San Francisco bought ads in Roll
Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, calling on Congress to cut the Ryan
White Care Act, which is the largest source of federal funds for
essential drugs, health and support services for Americans living with HIV and
their families.
The group claims that its true target is the
pharmaceutical industry. But here at home, the group's members intimidate people
with AIDS, activists, volunteers, educators and researchers through anonymous
calls, threats at home and at work, and with verbal attacks on the street. By
1997, the San Francisco organization Community United Against Violence had more
than a dozen formal complaints of harassment, intimidation and threats carried
out by ACT UP San Francisco.
If ACT UP San Francisco is so convinced it
is right, why does it need to interfere as we pursue and evaluate information
for ourselves? One answer lies in basic activism: if you do something dramatic
enough -- even if it's destructive -- it will draw media coverage. They are
frequently unwittingly aided by the press looking for two sides of AIDS stories.
In addition to media, ACT UP San Francisco uses the profits from its
sales of medical marijuana to continue its campaign. Sales from ACT UP's
marijuana club to individuals who have a medical need for it bring in more than
$1 million each year. It is insulting to people with HIV and
other life-threatening illnesses that ACT UP San Francisco uses profits to
advocate for eliminating HIV medical and support services.
What will be
the result if ACT UP San Francisco is allowed to continue to act out? More
infections. More tragedy, loss and death.
Beginning today, nearly 200 of
us are declaring that enough is enough. Beginning today, we are launching a
campaign to hold ACT UP San Francisco accountable for their violence and
dangerous lies. We encourage the community to:
1) Boycott ACT UP San
Francisco's marijuana club. If you need medical marijuana, we ask you to
purchase it from somewhere else. A list of other medical marijuana clubs can be
found at www.surviveaids.org.
2) Call San Francisco's mayor, board of
supervisors, and District Attorney Terence Hallinan. Ask them to protect people
with HIV and those involved in the fight against HIV from personal harassment
and intimidation. Demand that they fully prosecute all violent behavior.
3) Write. Every time you read of a new disruption or attack, write a
letter to the editor. Let them know you want safety and treatment information,
not AIDS denial or personal attacks.
Some of us have devoted our careers
to fighting AIDS; many of us volunteer. Some of us are infected with HIV; all of
us have been affected. All of us want to see better treatments. All of us want
to be here for the day AIDS is really over.
None of us dispute their
right to believe what they want. But we demand to be able to make real progress
in the fight without having to lose time and waste resources correcting lies and
protecting those who attend our forums. We will not accept that even one
potential volunteer becomes afraid to get involved, or worse, that one infection
takes place, due to ACT UP San Francisco's tactics.
We all cherish our
freedom. We appreciate the diversity for which San Francisco is lauded,
including the diversity of opinion. It is time for all San Franciscans, and all
of us fighting AIDS, to stand together and declare our commitment to respect,
dialogue and a healthy future for all of us.
Dan Wohlfeiler,
Steve Lew and Hank Wilson are members of AIDS Activists Against Violence and
Lies. To pledge against ACT UP San Francisco, call (415) 252-8306 or e-mail
BoycottACTUPSF@aol.com.
GRAPHIC: GRAPHIC, Margaret
Scott / Special to The Chronicle
LOAD-DATE: September
21, 2000 
