Hated in San Francisco, Duo Gets Help from Afar

A group of prominent AIDS and gay advocates across the country are uniting on an unlikely front: They're calling for fair treatment of two activists who have harassed many in San Francisco's AIDS community for years. Most in the local AIDS community were jubilant when Michael Petrelis and David Pasquarelli were charged last month with criminal conspiracy, stalking and making criminal threats and were held on $500,000 bail. But a growing number of activists elsewhere say the charges are overblown, and the men's freedom of expression has been trampled on. A letter drafted by New York gay activist Bill Dobbs has been signed by at least 30 respected activists so far, even though "Plenty of people grit their teeth and say you want me to sign what?" Dobbs said.

The harassing phone calls and offensive behavior of Petrelis and Pasquarelli have disturbed many in the AIDS and public health community in recent years, but their arrests are a cause of concern for some activists. "While we (and others) may disagree with them on politics or tactics, the history of AIDS has often compelled aggressive responses by activists," the letter states. "The prospect of high bail and escalating criminal charges for protest is a genuine threat to civil liberties."

Judy Greenspan, HIV advocate for California Prison Focus, said she is opposed to the prosecution of Petrelis and Pasquarelli even though she has been on the receiving end of some of their phone calls. She is also concerned with reports that Petrelis -- who is HIV-positive -- was having trouble getting medical attention in the San Francisco jail. Julie Davids, director of Critical Path AIDS Project in Philadelphia, is also concerned with Petrelis' health.

In his own open letter last week, ACT UP/Philadelphia and Philadelphia Prevention Point co-founder Scott Tucker said he does not agree with some of the men's tactics but is concerned with due process and civil liberties. "Many Americans are wondering what it means for the courts to do their thing under the shadow of [Attorney General John] Ashcroft and the Patriot Act," he said. "The implications of this case go far beyond these two defendants. Since 9/11, the definition of terrorism has drifted far from ground zero. That should concern all activists and civil libertarians."

Back to other CDC news for December 14, 2001

Previous Updates