SF Protest Cuts in AIDS Medication

As the reality of the draconian budget cuts proposed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger starts to set in signs of grassroots responses are already appearing. Schwarzenegger's budget proposal is designed to put the burden of a $16 billion dollar budget deficit on the backs of workers and the poor of California. In all areas of health and human services, budgets are being slashed by the made for TV governor. From a 10% increase in universities fees to cuts in Medi Cal, restrictions and welfare benefits all are losing funding. Program after program designed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in society are either being cut or eliminated all together.

One of those programs on the chopping block is the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). This program provides proven effective HIV medication to 24,000 low income Californians. If Schwarzenegger gets his way there would be a cap placed on enrollment in the program that would deny 14, 400 people from joining and limit the medication provided to those already in the program because of rising drug costs. Already AIDS medication costs $10,000 to $15,000 a year.

On Tuesday, January 13,it became clear that patients and AIDS/HIV advocates were not going to take this attack on life saving treatment without a struggle. Over 300 fired up protestors filled the steps of the State Building in San Francisco for a noontime demo to say no to the cuts. Speaker after speaker condemned the cuts and compared it to signing the death sentence for people dependent on this medication to survive. The protest was organized by Women Organized to Respond to Life Threatening Diseases and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.