When AIDS first became public 25 years ago, angry, vocal and visible protest from outside the halls of power was necessary to focus political leadership on the pandemic and potential for human tragedy. Today, the tragedy is no longer potential, but fact.

It is fitting then, that at the United Nations last night, the UNAIDS "Evening of Remembrance and Hope" was interupted by protesters chanting and walking out. Through [img_assist|nid=243|title=Noreen Kaleeba|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=65]speech and song, film and photo, 25 years of the disease was traced, 25 million souls remembered. At the conclusion of remarks by one African activist, in which she "invited the spirits of those we loved and lost to AIDS" to come into the room in silent remembrance, protestors shouted demands for specific targets, more treatment, human rights for women and girls and harm reduction for vulnerable populations.

This direct action came as negotiators from the Organization of Islamic States, the Vatican and at least some parts of the US delegation continued to dilute the declaration to be signed today.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to the early AIDS protestors who long ago died was not the protest itself, but the fact that it took place in the Great Hall of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The meetings were unprecedented in that diplomats and political leaders sat side by side with members of Civil Society Organizations, learning how to improve this declaration and the global commitment to beat AIDS. As far as people with AIDS and public health advocates have come in 25 years to be inside the halls of power, the truth remains that it is the inaction and refusal[img_assist|nid=244|title=Kofi Anan|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=79|height=100] of some entrenched forces and governments that left advocates no choice but to shout and walk out, further underscoring the importance of action.

Secretary General Kofi Annan said that "leadership means learning to do something different" calling on diplomats to recognize that "real manhood comes from protecting others from harm" as he mentioned women and girls, sex workers, men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users and other vulnerable populations to sustained and boisterous applause. Richard Holbrooke, head of the Global Business Council on AIDS said the business community was "not doing enough" to slow the deaths of between 8,000 and 12,000 people who die from AIDS every day.

Actor Richard Gere talked of how AIDS "devastated my [img_assist|nid=245|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=65]community" and has "brought out the best and the worst in all of us," noting that perhaps the world was finally turning the corner in that respect.

The female activist mentioned above spoke passionately, "History will judge us, is judging us even now as we commemorate, if we fail to recognize the feminine face of this disease today. The anger that has brought us as far as we have come is justified." She called on the assembled leaders to honor their commitments and said that Civil Society Organizations demanded specific targets. At that, her conclusion, chanting began and protestors took to the aisles of the Great Hall before being escorted out by security and having their badges allowing access to the UN revoked. The Secretary General later intervened on their behalf and restored the badges so they could return today to take part in the sessions.

Actress Whoopi Goldberg described this as "a momentus time that now is in your (refering to national delegates) hands. Either you will take care of AIDS, or you won't." She then quoted the chanters saying "in my heart I hope you know what they were saying and will act accordingly tomorrow, for it has taken determined, affected and infected people to lead this fight. What you do tomorrow sets the tone for what happens on AIDS from now on."

Others, including Angelique Kidjo, Salman Ahmad, Paul Winter, Naomi Watts, Mary Fisher and Wyclef Jean, The[img_assist|nid=246|title=Angelique Kidjo|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=67|height=100] African Childrens Choir from Uganda and Kenya as well as advocates, experts and officials added their pleas for real action through song and speech. Peter Piot, director of UNAIDS concluded the evening by saying, "this is a test of diplomacy — the choice is death or life by diplomacy. Divided, the disease wins. United, life wins. I cannot accept that the life of a man who has sex with men, a drug user, a sex worker or a young woman or girl is worth any less than the life of my own children."

Photo Credit: UNAIDS J. Rae