About 100 community members and health activists gathered in front of the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago July 22 to demand that the state pass a budget that adequately funds services for those Illinoisans who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS funds have been tied up as Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly have attempted, so far to relatively little avail, to negotiate a final budget deal, a situation that's led to a shutdown of state government. Rauner's initial FY 2016 budget, proposed in February, cut funding for HIV/AIDS services significantly, and supportive legislators have had little success in getting the services reinstated. The Rauner budget contained a $6 million cut—about 25 percent—to HIV funding and slashed the funding to the African American HIV/AIDS Response Act by 66 percent to $500,000.
Despite a few light-hearted slogans—the protestors riffed off a hit Rihanna song, with the crowd chanting, "Bruce better have my money"—the speakers and crowd were deadly serious about the implications of the budget impasse lasting much longer.
Activist Will Wilson said that the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program ( ADAP ), one of the programs on the line, "gives me access to the medications that keep me alive today."
Wilson bemoaned that service providers appeared to be thrust into the middle of funding battles, and accused Rauner of "separating us and causing us to fight amongst ourselves. … It's called 'divide and conquer.'" He added, "We are not a bottom line. I am not a bottom line. I don't want to go to my own funeral one day in the near future."
That sentiment was echoed by activist Arick Buckles, who said he's frightened about what lies in store in the weeks ahead.
"As a person living with AIDS, I'm afraid, that, come August 1st, I won't be able to afford a prescription refill," he explained. "I'm frustrated with Illinois lawmakers because they can't agree on a state budget. … August 1st scares the hell out of me."
Rev. Charles Straight, of Faith United Methodist Church in Dolton, said that the cuts fall "along a vile and evil place" and would only heighten the gulf between rich and poor and make racial inequality worse. "It's uncaring, cruel, immoral and racist," he added.
"When I heard that ADAP was a 'non-essential' program, it shook me," added Rev. Doris Green, director of correctional health and community relations for AFC.
Activist Michael O'Connor said a different tactic besides protests might ultimately be needed. "Rallies are not the only answer. Act-Up might be the answer. We've got to take this down to Springfield, to the governor's office. We've got to not be afraid of getting arrested."
AFC President John Peller said that his organization has had to reach into its own coffers to help smaller agencies avoid layoffs, and that there's widespread anxiety among service providers and their clients who don't know how long the situation will take to be resolved.
"You've got to put Humpty Dumpty back together again," said Peller. "Those talented people who work for those organizations aren't going to wait around for funding to be reinstated. They're going to go out and get other jobs."
State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, attended the rally. He this year was the House co-sponsor of a bill that re-authorized the HIV/AIDS African American Relief Fund. The measure was signed by Rauner on July 16, but given the state shutdown, none of the money in the fund can be spent.
"We can't just blame the governor nor can we just blame Republicans," Ford said. "Eventually everyone needs to sit down and work on this budget."
