On Monday, a group of far-left activists stormed the office of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to express their strong support for the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS.
7 activists including Housing Works CEO and Executive Director Asia Russell are being arrested at McCarthy's D.C. office, calling on him to PASS PEPFAR NOW with a clean 5-year authorization. Chanting fervently in unison, they repeatedly demanded the immediate passage of PEPFAR, directly addressing Speaker McCarthy.
Inside the office, the passionate crowd could be seen wearing shirts boldly stating "HIV POSITIVE," spreading awareness of the urgent need to address this pressing issue.
Social media posts indicate that at least one of the activists involved in the incident was subsequently arrested. One such post on the official account for Health GAP, an advocacy group that organized the protest alongside Housing Works, praised the courage of the activists engaging in civil disobedience.
It emphasized that the existence of PEPFAR today is a result of the relentless determination of these brave activists who have consistently held duty bearers accountable for their actions.