'AIDS is still killing us'

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ACT-UP, was especially crucial in this re- the rights of unionists, Blacks, women, or spect. It is by public protest that govern- the rights of gays and victims of deadly disments and employers are forced to act on is- eases such as AIDS. [Our next issue will sues of social concern—whether it concerns carry more on the AIDS conference.-Edit.] SOCIALIST ACTION JULY 1990 3 in regard to the "timetable of its implementation."

This formulation could play into the hands of De Klerk and his white minority government, who want to shortcircuit the struggle for Black majority rule. They have insisted on being granted "veto power" over the Black majority through a two-chamber parliament.

2) Mandela was told to be "responsive" 1o the interests of the white "business community."

While Mandela insisted on the need to build an economic system that would eliminate the inequities that have benefited the "tiny, white minority" and left the Black majority impoverished, he also affirmed that he would support a capitalist mixed economy in a post-apartheid state.

Speaking to 280 corporate heads and Fortune 500 executives, Mandela said he was "sensitive" to investors' needs. He pledged that no "arbitrary government action" would be taken against capitalist investment following the end of apartheid. "The economy," he said, "will proceed on the basis of free enterprise. And we don't propose to interfere with that."

But "apartheid capitalism," as South African Blacks often refer to the current economic system in their country, cannot be reformed. It will be impossible to satisfy the The battle against the deadly disease AIDS was brought to the world's attention at the Sixth International Conference on AIDS held in San Francisco June 20-24.

Some 12,000 delegates and press registered for the five-day conference. This included hundreds of HIV-infected people who for the first time in the series of conferences were on the official program at all levels.

AIDs is a deadly disease caused by the human immunodefiency virus (HIV). Currently there is no cure.

The highlight of the conference took place outside its doors. Unofficial activities organized by militant gay rights groups took center stage during the course of the conference that reported little progress in finding a cure to the AIDS virus. Led by activists of the coalition ACT UP (Aids Coalition to Unleash Power), daily protests were organized in downtown San Francisco.

The focus of the protests was against government inaction to fight the virus and to help victims of the disease. Marchers also included many scientists and doctors attending the AIDS Conference, some participating in their first demonstration.

An ACT-UP activist summed up the feelings of the young who were critical of the official AIDS establishment: "We're losing our hard edge of criticism. AIDS is still killing us. I came here to agitate, not to collaborate. We should have rioted a long time ago."

Protesters also hit the U.S. government's reactionary immigration laws that prevented many HIlV-infected panelists from attending the conference. Many others boycotted the conference because of this policy.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of June 1 an estimated 600,000 AIDS cases, and some 300,000 deaths, have been reported. In the United States at least 83,145 people have died of While scientists and doctors have not yet found a cure for AIDS, the focus on the issue and what the government should be doing to help victims was all brought to the world's attention during the San Francisco conference.

The determination of demonstrators, led by Kim Komenich/S.F.Examiner AIDS conference protester being arrested in S.F.

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Perhaps the most far-reaching of many