45 Years of AIDS

45 Million Dead. AIDS isn’t over.

June 5, 2026 at NYC AIDS Memorial

Sunset Candlelight Vigil & March

ACT UP New York Candlelight Vigil, March and Die-in

NYC AIDS Memorial

On June 5, 1981, a published report about a strange disease afflicting gay men. The CDC published a report in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) describing five cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in previously healthy gay men in Los Angeles. This brief article was the first official, published documentation of the disease that would later be named AIDS.

45 years, 45 million dead. AIDS is not over. June 5th meet at the AIDS Memorial.

What: Candle Light Vigil, followed by a march and die in.

When: JUNE 5th, 7 pm, dusk

Where: New York City AIDS Memorial, located at the intersection of Greenwich Avenue, Seventh Avenue, and West 12th Street in Manhattan’s West Village.

Why: AIDS is not over.

Who: New York AIDS Memorial, ACT UP, Rise and Resist, Housing Works Inc.

**Masking is encouraged**

Background:

Seven Days in June: Candlelight Vigil and Rally

In a powerful demonstration of solidarity, the New York City AIDS Memorial is partnering with ACT UP, Callen-Lorde, Housing Works, Metro New York Health Care for All, PrEP4All, Rise and Resist, Treatment Action Group (TAG), and a broad coalition of community organizations for a candlelight vigil, rally, and march. Held at the Memorial, the June 5 event marks HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day and commemorates a solemn milestone: the 45th anniversary of the CDC’s first report on the epidemic.

Organized as part of Seven Days in June—a decentralized, national grassroots campaign running from June 1 to June 7—this gathering shines a spotlight on how the current administration’s proposed funding cuts will impact local communities. The campaign unites advocates nationwide to ask elected officials to clarify strategies for improving healthcare affordability, sustaining biomedical research, protecting public health infrastructure, and ensuring stability for vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ communities and people living with HIV/AIDS. Beginning with a diverse lineup of vital advocacy voices, including Dr. Demetre Daskalakis and activist and actor Javier Muñoz (with more to be announced), and followed by a candlelight vigil and march, the event serves as an essential platform for community dialogue, honoring the Memorial’s history of advocacy while addressing the pressing healthcare issues of today. For more information, visit nycaidsmemorial.org/7days.

How to get there:

Subway:

1, 2, or 3: To 14th St. (7th Ave.)

A, C, or E: Take these to the 14th Street station (8th Avenue).

F or M: To 14th St. (8th Ave.)

L: To 6th Ave. or 8th Ave.

PATH Train: To 9th St. Station

Bus:

M7 and M20: Along 7th and 8th Avenues.

M14A-SBS and M14D-SBS Bus: Across 14th Street.

M11 Bus: Serving Greenwich Village.

Partners Include:

ACT UP New York
RISE AND RESIST
HOUSING WORKS
PNHP (NEW YORK METRO CHAPTER)
NYC AIDS Memorial
Citizen Action of New York
Metro New York Health Care for All
PrEP4All
Treatment Action Group (TAG)
Callen-Lorde

Download (JPEG)

About ACT UP

Founded in 1987, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. ACT UP currently meets every Monday night at 7PM ET via Zoom. Notes: you will be asked to contribute your first & last name and email address to access online meetings, and KN-95 masks are required for ACT UP NY in person meetings/actions/gatherings. All individuals are welcome!

Support ACT UP NY & Palestinian people fleeing Gaza

For every SILENCE = DEATH watermelon item sale, proceeds will be split in half between ACT UP NY and direct medical aid to Palestinian people fleeing Gaza.