PWAC: Letters

editorial policy

Newsline is intended as a forum for the AIDS/HIV community. We invite and encourage your submissions of writing, photography, and artwork. Please feel free to call us at (212) 647-1415 with any questions or ideas you may have, or mail your submissions directly to:

PWAC NY Newsline
50 West 17 Street, 8th floor
New York, NY 10011.

Articles contained in this publication are for information only and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement of any health or exercise regimen or general program or event. The publication of any name or image does not, unless expressly stated, imply anything about a person's health status or sexual orientation. Opinions are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent official positions of PWAC NY.

The deadline for submission to Newsline is six weeks prior to publication, e.g. an article or announcement must be received by July 15 to be published in the September issue. Please double space each submission, and keep a copy of your original; we will not return manuscripts

Newsline will assume you want your real, full name used on any submission unless you clearly indicate that you want your name withheld or wish to use a pseudonym.

Newsline reserves the right to accept or reject any article at its sole discretion and to reprint any article that has appeared in Newsline, with appropriate credit to the author. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission for length and style. Every effort will be made to discuss major changes with authors prior to publication. Please include with your submission a phone number or other means of reaching you.

letters

Dear Newsline:

I would like to offer congratulations for a job well done! You have truly outdone yourselves in the September 1995 issue of "AIDS in Prison.o/oo I,m not saying this because my latest letter to you was part of this issue. No, I am speaking on behalf of all PWAs who are incarcerated. Thank you for giving us a way for our voices to be heard, and thank you for helping to make the public aware that we are being affected very hard in prisons. The public doesn,t think about us when they talk about this epidemic.

If it wasn,t for you, we might never be thought of except by our family and loved ones. Newsline is the only magazine that I,ve read or heard of that brings such a direct view from so many areas and people infected and affected. Believe me when I say this because I receive information, correspondence, magazines, newsletters, etc. from AIDS organizations across this country. I like to be kept up to date on all aspects of this virus and how it,s affecting others who are dealing with it. I also want to salute all those who are dealing with it positively! Thank you for taking a stand for those who are either afraid or lack the knowledge. I,m talking about all the activists, educators and advocates out there. If it wasn,t for you, we would still be in the dark ages.

The article by Kyle Beard (September 1995) really touched me the most. In my opinion, Kyle really did an excellent job in describing the problems that PWAs deal with on a daily basis. I myself have only known about my HIV status for 5 years, and I don,t think I was infected much sooner. Kyle really hit home with me on what he said. Kyle, you brought to light what many others refuse to see and realize.

Thank you all who are taking a stand. Thank you for helping us to realize that we are not alone, and thank you for at least attempting to make a difference. Please don,t ever give up and stop, because as long as we stand united we will succeed! We must stay strong and keep hope. We will succeed!

Sincerely, James Kiminecz, Florida

Dear Newsline:

If I knew there was going to be a special issue on AIDS in Prison (September 1995), I would have definitely contributed to it, but I see several of my longtime comrades had, especially the warm and thoughtful remembrances made of me by Danny Diaz. But you have always been a clarion of our struggles and needs and I commend your efforts and work greatly.

I particularly enjoyed reading the issue on AIDS/HIV and Pregnancy (July/August 1995), especially the vibrant and enlightening testimony given by Michelle. I will keep her in my prayers. This is an issue of importance for all of us and our future and should not be neglected. I give high praise to Willie and Vivian for their self-determination and fortitude to go forward with the desires of their heart, and not to be swayed by the ignorance and prejudice of others.

The prison I am now in is the most brutal and violent in the state, one that I was transferred out of five years ago before winding up at Green Haven, where I co-founded PACE/Green Haven. They have no AIDS education programs here, no violence awareness or alternatives to violence programs, and the facility has recently become host for death row. For the past few years, I have been writing that New York state does not need a legislated death penalty, when it already has an unlegislated one ~ its inhumane treatment of prisoners with AIDS/HIV. New York State is still the state with the second largest amount of people executed, and it has not had a death penalty for 30 years. More prisoners have died from AIDS in the last 6 years than all the people previously executed under the death penalty. Wake up New York, and the smell the coffee. This is not a measure to reduce crime and the prison population which has tripled since 1982. It,s genocide!

I highly commend the honorable efforts to portray the truth, to enlighten, and to be vanguard for many who have been rejected by a society that has been blinded by a corrupt right-wing administration. I send my love and deepest regards to all the staff at PWAC NY, and to all my fellow prisoners in solidarity in this struggle. There is no freedom without struggle! Take care and remain strong and committed.

Sincerely, Yusuf A. Shakoor

to index