by Timothy Jackson, Director of Government Relations
AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) applauds Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for signing House Bill 3653, the Illinois Criminal Justice Omnibus Bill —landmark legislation that brings significant criminal justice reforms to Illinois. These reforms include the end of cash bail, new police accountability standards, and new pretrial release...
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By Aisha N. Davis, Esq., Director of Policy
After centuries, after genocide, after chattel slavery. After civil war, after three-fifths, after fugitive slave acts. After reservations, after trails of tears, after residential schools. After railroads, after internment camps, after exclusion acts. After xenophobia, after forced deportation, after segregation. After sunset towns, after MOVE,...
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AFC is heartbroken to learn that long-time HIV advocate Ben Montgomery passed away. Ben was a campaigner from the West Side of Chicago and fought for health care access, HIV funding and equity and justice. Ben raised hell when he needed to — and got results. He was one of the driving forces behind the first-in-the-nation HIV/AIDS Quality of Life scratch-off lottery ticket, which has raised...
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AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) is heartened by the dramatic decrease in the number of Chicagoans newly diagnosed with HIV in 2019, as the city’s public health department announced on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day . 652 Chicagoans were diagnosed with HIV in 2019, down from 760 in 2018, a 14% decrease. This year’s numbers build on a 29% decrease in new HIV cases since 2015.
The new data...
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The U.S. Senate Republicans’ HEALS Act ignores devastating impact of COVID-19 in Illinois and across the country. Congress and the Trump Administration must do better and fast!
Congress and the Trump Administration must come to an agreement now on enacting into law a COVID-19 relief package that is robust, equitable and utilizes the U.S. House Democrats’ HEROES Act as...
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July 26, 2020, marks the 30th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush signing the civil rights legislation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibiting discrimination of people with disabilities in employment, places of public accommodation, public services, telecommunications, and transportation--as well as state and government programs. This landmark legislation provides...
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“While we are happy with today’s ruling that grants temporary immigrant relief for DACA recipients, we are well aware that the Trump administration may attempt to rescind the program at a later date,” says Timothy Jackson, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) Director of Government Relations.
Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration wrongly ended...
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By Aisha N. Davis, Esq., Director of Policy
Na’Kia Crawford. Riah Milton. Dominique Fells. Nina Pop. Breonna Taylor. Priscilla Slater. Regis Korchinski-Paquet. Tony McDade. Oluwatoyin Salau. Rayshard Brooks. George Floyd. David McAtee. Ahmaud Arbery.
These thirteen names represent thirteen stories abruptly ended. Thirteen futures stalled. Thirteen unique lives, unique laughs,...
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Photo by Zackary Drucker, The Gender Spectrum Collection
Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled in three separate cases that LGBTQ+ people are protected from employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
One of the cases, Harris Funeral Homes v. Stephens , addresses...
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Like so many of you, I am reeling after the last week and this weekend. WE ARE NOT OK. Our country, our city and many of us are not OK. In fact, chances are great that Black colleagues and friends are traumatized and exhausted.
Due to instigation, provocation, and militarized law enforcement responses, many of this weekend's peaceful protests meant to honor George Floyd's...
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