New York: Demands for Prison STD Treatment

On April 30 outside a hearing on New York's prison health policy, activists rallied in support of legislation that would subject prisons to the same health standards as hospitals and require the implementation of STD education and prevention efforts. One bill would task the state health department with reviewing HIV and hepatitis care -- a responsibility that is now the sole province of the department of corrections. The bills have passed the state Assembly but are mired in the Senate.

"This campaign has been going on for a year and a half. Protest and legislative strategy are going together," said Graziela Tanaka, an organizer of the protest at the Harlem State Office Building, who works with the New York City AIDS Housing Network.

Activists and former inmates charged that New York prisons carry out systematic neglect of prisoners' basic rights for HIV, hepatitis, and other STD treatment and prevention. "Not providing access to HIV prevention is criminal," said Charles Cobb of the Harlem Directors Group. "At Riker's Island, the doctors don't even have any training in HIV treatment," said Mary Solomon, an HIV-positive former inmate. "The doctors try their best, but the system's got to do something." The protesters also criticized the state's refusal to distribute condoms in prisons.

Numerous organizations, from AIDS groups to the Harlem Tenants Council and St. Mary's Church, participated in the rally. "There was lots of new collaboration," said Emmaia Gelman, a member of ACT UP's Harlem working group. The activists distributed flyers and spoke to community members in central Harlem. "People are glad to hear someone talking about these issues in this community," said Gelman.

Back to other news for May 19, 2004