Members of the People of Color Coalition, a group of HIV/AIDS activists from minority communities, called Thursday for a boycott of the Chicago AIDS Walk to protest “insensitive” policies held by the AIDS Walk board.
The 25 or so protesters asked people to support agencies that provide HIV/AIDS services in underserved minority communities instead of the AIDS Walk. They also said they may hold a separate fundraising event on Sept. 28, the day the walk is to take place.
“What we want the AIDS Walk to do is open up its structure to agencies run by people of color that are fighting the epidemic,” said Omar Lopez, director of CALOR, a West Side agency that provides case management for people impacted by AIDS. “We want to work, we want to bring in pledges and teams of volunteers. But they have stalled and stalled and never included us in their board meeting discussions.”
Members of the coalition were angry because a year of trying to meet with the AIDS Walk Board to discuss minority inclusion had netted them only one meeting in April. They carried their protest into the AIDS Walk offices at 221 N. LaSalle St., where after a brief, heated discussion, they were allowed to attend the AIDS Walk news conference.
“I’m convinced they thought we’d go away,” said Renae Ogletree of the coalition. “It shouldn’t take until the month before the walk to discuss the issues face to face.”
Paul Hook, executive director for the AIDS Walk, said the 12-member AIDS Walk Board has made plans to hold a daylong discussion on Thursday to evaluate itself, its response to HIV and the direction it needs. He said the board needs to decide how to admit others. He said it also needs to decide if the AIDS Walk should fund the fight against AIDS in Chicago or seek to benefit member agencies.
“For the board to spend time, four weeks before the event, looking at planning how we are going to grow tells you that the board is taking this seriously,” Hook said.
At issue has been the board, predominantly comprised of white representatives of HIV/AIDS service providers. Many of the agencies they run are based on the North Side, though some, such as Cook County and Michael Reese Hospitals, are based on the West and South Sides.
The member agencies serve large numbers of minorities. Volunteers’ efforts have made the walk one of the most successful fundraisers in Chicago for HIV/AIDS services, earning some partipating agencies about $75,000each in past years. This year, member agencies have agreed to take a smaller share and grant $37,500 to two agencies run by minorities if the walk’s $2 million goal is met.
Both sides agreed that a boycott of the AIDS Walk could cause long-lasting problems in raising money.
Danyel Green, who has HIV and lives in housing that is supported by the AIDS Walk, said, “I feel there must be some other way this can be solved than a boycott. If there is a boycott and we don’t get the funds, does that mean I have to be homeless again? I don’t qualify for other funding.”
Hooks was told that protesters have adhered stickers to AIDS Walk advertising on buses and trains and all over town that state the AIDS Walk discriminates.
The tactic, he said, will keep some from participating and will hurt the walk’s ability to meet its $2 million goal.
