“United we stand, divided we fall.” In times of crisis, it’s imperative that a nation comes together as one collective unit. But in the 1980’s AIDS crises that we faced, the country was anything but supportive. Ignorant to the thousands of deaths of gay men, society carried on living their lives pretending that others were being deprived of this option. However, the ACT-UP organization took a stand and spoke for those that were being suppressed. Consisting of both victims and those who were trying to make a difference, the ACT UP group used non-violent protests to project their voice over all those oblivious to the seriousness of the situation. Furthermore, they conducted these protests in “sacred spaces” to efficiently convey their message and to catch the attention of the nation.
Often seen as controversial, the use of “sacred space” was a critical piece of the ACT UP movement. They invaded hospitals to talk about how such institutions served to care and cure-all withheld treatment from those suffering from Aids. Furthermore, they stormed Catholic churches accusing them responsible for metaphorically and quite literally killing the LGBT community. In a space where countless are worshipping God and praying for others, it was necessary for them to acknowledge the pain being inflicted upon gays. Moving from religious institutions to political institutions, the ACT UP organization stood loud and proud on the front lawn of the country’s home: The White House. Pouring the ashes of those that were lost to the unfortunate disease, ACT UP reminded the government that they needed to be responsible for their actions and needed to start taking care of all their citizens. Though unconventional, the approach the ACT UP group used was pivotal in showing the blatant disregard the nation was showing when their people needed them the most.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, ” In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” Using words instead of actions can seem anything but empowering and a slow way to instill change. Nonetheless, all wars are not fought by guns. The ACT UP movement stood as inspiration for many peaceful protests to come after. Using media coverage, they effectively reached all minds even those trying to “forget”. It’s not always about winning, but more importantly, being heard and showing the world you’re not scared to speak up.
My group’s topic is affirmative action. ACT UP lives as a perfect example of activism around my topic. Using non-violent means such as peaceful protests. Similarly, like the ACT UP group, the affirmative action community is greatly diversified and has strength in numbers. Taking away from the ACT UP strategies, affirmative action protesters should seek help from media coverage to bolster their cause and amplify their voice. Most importantly, the ACT UP group teaches all that to make a difference, one should not stick to the ordinary means but be bold in trying to reach the minds of those that refuse to listen.
– Arya Sanghavi
