More than 2,000 HIV/AIDS activists from around the world took part in the "Keep the Promise for HIV/AIDS" March through downtown Washington on July 22. Among those activists were 32 parishioners from St. Luke’s Columbia. Also part of the South Carolina delegation were members from St. Martin’s in the Fields Columbia, and St. Alban’s Lexington. Following the South Carolina banner HIV/AIDS: Dare to Care, activists participated in the two mile march through the heart of our nation’s capitol.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, journalist Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young were among those who urged President Obama and other elected officials to do more to combat the domestic epidemic during a rally held near the Washington Monument prior to the march.

St. Luke’s decided to participate in the march after a screening of an ETV documentary entitled HIV/AIDS and Faith. "Viewing this video and the subsequent discussion ignited a flame in the parish, who have long been involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy," said Deacon Dianna Deaderick. "The video made it clear that HIV/AIDS should be a top priority in the faith community in South Carolina, as South Carolina continues to rank number one in the nation in newly reported heterosexually transmitted cases of HIV. Of these new cases, over seventy percent are in the African American community. This epidemic has the potential of destroying an entire generation of leaders." According to Deacon Deaderick, before the evening of the video screening was over, parishioners had already decided that they wanted to march. "This experience really touched my heart," replied long-time St. Luke’s member Veda Johnson. "It has really made me want to do more."

Parishioners also participated in the "Reading of the Names" ceremony on July 23. During this event parishioners read a list of names from the National HIV/AIDS quilt which was on display on the National Mall during the March and which will be part of a documentary filmed about the March by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

For more information about what your parish can do to become involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy or to receive a copy of the ETV video HIV/AIDS and Faith contact Deacon Dianna Deaderick at 803-254-2327.