On World AIDS Day 2004 women of color were marching in the streets and rallying on the steps of City Hall to make sure the voices of women of color were heard! VOW helped organize the march and rally with many other community-based organizations and individuals.

Click for web photo show of all photos of the entire day. See a short summary below.

We marched from Wall Street to City Hall despite heavy wind and rain. Many community-based groups joined together. See a web photo show for pictures of all the participating groups.

Neither the wind or rain could stop us. At City Hall Park we watched people from Housing Works read names of our loved ones who have died of AIDS.

We rallied at City Hall. Suki Ports was the MC. We were supported by the presence of many elected officials (Councilman James Liu in background).

Many speakers from community-based organizations serving women of color living with HIV/AIDS spoke. Here Marie St. Cyr of Iris House speaks about the 12 women that Iris House has lost to AIDS in the past year.
Play video of excerpt of Marie's speech. 750kb, Quicktime format.

Soraya Elcock, Dep. Dir. of Prevention at Harlem United, told us of the current crisis of rising numbers of young women of color infected with HIV in NYC.
Play excerpt of video of Soraya's speech. 1.3 MB, Quicktime format.

Hilda Melore of VOW (Voices of Women of Color Against HIV/AIDS) closed out the rally with fierce chanting demanding more resources and attention for issues of women of color and HIV/AIDS.
Play the video of Hilda's speech, 1.9 MB, Quicktime format.

Click to see pictures of all organizations marching and all rally speakers.