"Silence equals death." With this slogan emblazoned on dozens of signs on the evening of April 15, 1987 several hundred protesters, organized by the newly formed New York chapter of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACTUP), descended on the city's main post office on Manhattan's west side. On Tax Day evening, this postal branch remains open to give New Yorkers until midnight to file. Also on this evening, local media provides customary coverage of habitual late filers. ACTUP organized their event specifically to engage the unsuspecting audience of media and taxpayers to show how taxes could be used to fight the growing epidemic. From that day, ACTUP grew to national status as among the most important organizations fighting for access to AIDS treatment.
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