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Public Employee Press
AIDS fighters
Despite
pressing commitments including official union responsibilities, community
volunteer efforts and family and work obligations Jackie Beckett,
Lisa Breslof, Carmen Flores and Valentín Colón showed up early Sunday
morning, May 21, to participate in AIDS Walk New York. Mr. Colón
was adorned by the paper crown given to Star Walkers, participants
who raise $1,000 or more through contributions from friends, family and co-workers.
He has participated in the walkathon every year since it started, 20 years ago.
Its an important cause. I want to keep doing it until they tell us
theyve found a cure, he said. Carmen Flores, the vice chair
of the Human Resources Administration Chapter of Clerical-Administrative
Employees Local 1549, organized members from HRA and the locals Communications
Committee to participate, wearing yellow T-shirts provided by Local 1549.
Our committee pledged $1,000, she said. In the crowd that
swelled to 50,000 participants, the women representing DC 37 walked side by side
with high school and college students and groups from organizations, businesses,
city agencies and unions. We made a powerful statement about thelabor
movement, said Flores. It demonstrates that unions are involved in
other, larger issues that affect the members besides contracts and wages.
Past and future
Jackie Beckett, former president of American Museum of Natural History Local 1559
andco-chair of DC 37s Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee, captained the unions
team this year. We are walking today, not just for a future cure, but in
honor of those we have lost in the past to this disease, she said.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90,000 people
have died of AIDS in New York City and almost 100,000 are living with HIV/AIDS,
a figure that puts the city at the epicenter of the 25-year-old epidemic in the
United States. The AIDS Walk, a 10-kilometer walkathon, benefits the
Gay Mens Health Crisis, thenations oldest and largest AIDS service
organization, and over 50 other tri-state AIDS service organizations.
Local 1559 Treasurer Lisa Breslof, an educator at the museum, understands the
importance of spreading the word about AIDS prevention. Im very proud
to be here today, she said. Every dollar we raise helps to fund
research and to promote awareness in order to prevent the disease. Breslof
said she found it very easy to collect donations for the walkathon. People
understand the gravity of the disease and they were willing to throw their support
behind this event, she noted.
Jane LaTour | |