Activists arrested at die-in when protesting loss of global HIV funding

Author: Trudy Ring

More than 30 HIV activists and fired foreign aid workers held a “die-in” Wednesday in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., to protest the Trump administration’s cuts to this aid, including lifesaving drugs, and 21 were arrested. Protesters stage a die-in inside the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building as part of a protest against cuts to foreign aid, in Washington, D.C., on February 26, 2025.Anadolu/Getty Images

Funding for foreign aid “is not controversial, and what is happening is not government efficiency, it’s government fraud, waste, and abuse when it comes to what DOGE is doing,” fired USAID contractor Van Credle said at the protest, according to The Guardian, referring to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Musk, which has imposed huge cuts on many federal agencies, even though their funding was approved by Congress.

“So much of our work at USAID is mandated by Congress, and so for Congress to not be taking action, for Congress to be holding hearings that are pushing out lies and falsehoods about USAID to say that the waivers are back when we know that they’re actually not turned on and the money’s not actually flowing, it’s incredibly disappointing,” added Kelsey Crow, a former USAID contractor, as reported by The Guardian.

The 21 who were arrested had failed to disperse when ordered to do so by Capitol Police. “It is against the law to protest inside the Congressional buildings, so just after 11:30 a.m., approximately 21 people were arrested in the Cannon Rotunda for 22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding.” Capitol Police said in a statement to the Blade.

Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Trudy Ring