C2EA folks get arrested

It was a great protest - as part of the week of action here in DC, C2EA caravaners participated in the satirical Campaign to Increase AIDS, giving "Golden Funeral Urn Awards" to the biggest inhibiters of effective HIV prevention. The Family Research Council got the biggest hit of the right-wing groups affecting government policy, with something like a dozen protesters getting arrested there. Groups whose work directly increases others' risk of contracting HIV also include the Family Values Coalition, Concerned Women for America, and others.

The grand finale was the fist prize funeral urn, which of course went to President Bush. A grave yard was set up in honor of his efforts to appease the right wing extremists within his support base, whose ideologically-driven policies, like abstinence-only education, an unhealthy skepticism towards condoms, and an unreasoning opposition to needle exchange programs, have contributed to millions of AIDS deaths.

The grave yard was populated by over 30 protesters holding tombstone-shaped signs. Twenty-nine were arrested for refusing to leave. I was able to get, um, pretty close to the action.