ACT-UP was an advocacy group that worked to impact the lives of people with AIDS. They raised awareness to give free access to antiviral drugs to those who were affected by AIDS. This group used direct action to pressure the government, the media, and pharmaceutical companies to respond to their needs. They used sacred space to their advantage to enlighten bystanders of the bigotry faced by homophobes, people with AIDS, and abortion policies. Sacred space can be interpreted as having a specific purpose which can be used for people to devote their time to worship or the Catholic Church. Another way to interpret a sacred space is a place that is respected by a particular individual or group of people or the White House. ACT-UP used St. Patrick’s Cathedral to protest the Church’s homophobic and AIDS policies. Many protesters laid on the aisles in the churches screaming that they won’t stop protesting and others chained themselves to the church benches. They believed that homosexuality was not a sin and condoms were necessary to prevent the spread of AIDS in an environment where millions were dying because of the disease. Furthermore, protesters also poured the ashes of their loved ones to the front of the White House lawn. Protesters believed that emptying the ashes would be a powerful message to show the government that their refusal to acknowledge the deceased wouldn’t succeed. They thought it was important to bring the funeral to the White House since the government neglected the hundreds of funerals that took place. The people in power such as the president could’ve taken action to prevent these ashes from pouring onto the White House lawn. Their public actions were powerful because they weren’t afraid to march in numbers and protest for their rights. They gained the assistance from other social groups who were being ignored and otherized in society, and together they were able to unite and become a stronger coalition. They tried to gain as much media attention by strategically choosing to protest before presidential elections. They tried to gain a sense of empathy from the public to vote strategically for the president that would recognize the public’s opinion. They had no other option besides protesting to make public officials be on their side. In a time when everyone was silent, ACT-UP rose up to create a powerful voice to make a difference and save the lives of those who were on the verge of death due to the AIDS disease.
Activism around Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism can learn to unite groups of people and to raise awareness of the issue. The public has a fear of Muslims and the only way to overcome that is for Muslims to portray themselves in a positive light. They should protest non violently to express their own disapproval of the hate crimes and bigotry. The group of people who rise up even though they are being silenced will leave an impact on the people whose views are shaped by the media. Moreover, they must convince viewers that ignoring their viewpoint will have negative consequences for future generations. Muslims and Jews need to invite more people who are being otherized to their side to protest against the similar hate crimes and backlash that they face. Similarly, they must be persistent in achieving their goal because there will be many obstacles that will prevent them from reaching the goal. Using the White House as ACT-UP did will be an effective method to change the opinion of government officials who have a strong impact on the opinions of everyday Americans. Although most of the media portrays Muslims and Jews in a negative light there needs to be more positive interactions to decrease the apprehension that is felt by the public.
-A.B
