Housing Works Calls for More AIDS Funding at the One-Year Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the Occupy Wall-Street Movement, a movement of people all across the country -- and world -- who formed an ignitable cry that Wall Street and its crony of representatives to be held accountable for their financial corruption and irresponsibility that has devastated the country's middle and lower classes.

Housing Works' Derrick Chandler, New York City Issues Organizer, was there and gives us his report at the grassroots advocacy heyday.

On Monday, September 17, 2012, I was proud to take part in the Occupy Wall Street one-year anniversary rally/march in Zucotti Park. When I arrived at City Hall park at 11:45am, I met up with Terri Smith-Caronia, Housing Works' vice-president for New York State Advocacy & Public Policy, and Andrew Coamey, Housing Works' chief financial officer, as well as 21 awesome Housing Works' staff members who came down to the park to celebrate the anniversary.

I brought with me a sign we used last year during the ACT UP 25th Anniversary, which stated, "OWS Demands Money for AIDS Housing" on one side and our iconic Housing Works black/red and white house on the other.

At 12:10 p.m., we made our way south down Broadway to meet with the Occupy Wall Street who had already assembled at Zucotti Park. Once we were inside the park, we joined hundreds other OWS supporters and union members, including healthcare workers, the Teachers Union, the Postal Workers Union and numerous others, all of whom gave testimony about Wall Street greed, big banks' and corporations' greed and the need for low-income housing, money for AIDS housing and universal healthcare.

I even had a turn at the microphone, where I discussed the need for housing for people living with AIDS, affordable HIV medications, more treatment options and money for hep C testing and treatment. I finished by reciting with the crowd Housing Works' mission statement.

Then, at approximately 1:15 p.m., everyone exited the park for a march down to Wall Street. OWS, the 99%, the AIDS community and numerous unions all made their demands known in a loud and boisterous manner that reverberated all the way down the Canyon of Heroes.

All in all it was a good day!

Derrick Chandler
Housing Works New York City Issues Organizer