Activists Common, Harry Belafonte on front lines for HIV justice

By Yvette Caslin
Dec 01, 2016
12:49 pm

HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 30: (L-R) Actress Rosie Perez, rapper Common and singer-songwriter JoJo take part in AIDS Healthcare Foundations Keep the Promise March in Hollywood, CA on November 30, 2016. Thousands marched down historic Hollywood Boulevard on the eve of World AIDS Day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to persuade key decision makers in the US and around the globe to keep the promise and commit more funds to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. A free Keep the Promise concert at the Dolby Theatre headlined by Patti LaBelle and Common and honoring legen-dary entertainer and humanitarian Harry Belafonte for his charitable work followed the march. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation) — Actress Rosie Perez, rapper Common and singer-songwriter JoJo take part in AIDS Healthcare Foundations Keep the Promise March in Hollywood, CA on November 30, 2016. Thousands marched down historic Hollywood Boulevard on the eve of World AIDS Day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to persuade key decision makers in the US and around the globe to keep the promise and commit more funds to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. A free Keep the Promise concert at the Dolby Theatre headlined by Patti LaBelle and Common and honoring legendary entertainer and humanitarian Harry Belafonte for his charitable work followed the march. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), recently announced their Around the Globe in a Day initiative, a series of events across the world to commemorate World AIDS Day and continue to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS. The activities will include free concerts in Cambodia, Mexico City and the United States as well as free awareness and testing events throughout the U.S., Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Asia.

The U.S. Keep the Promise Around the Globe in a Day advocacy effort took place on Nov. 30, 2016 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. The event, hosted by critically acclaimed actress/choreographer Rosie Perez, began with a large Keep the Promise March on Hollywood Boulevard leading to a free concert at the theater with special performances by Grammy Award-winners Patti LaBelle and Common, as well as JoJo, Espinoza Paz, and B-Flow.

Since its inception in 1987, AHF has been a provider of HIV prevention services, testing, and healthcare for patients living with HIV. The mission of Around the Globe in a Day, Keep the Promise and AHF’s other efforts all over the world is to accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS. In a statement to media prior to the event, speaking about their efforts, AHF’s President Michael Weinstein, “Our hope is that our upcoming World AIDS Day Keep the Promise concert and march serve as a potent reminder that the fight against HIV/AIDS is not yet won and that these events serve as a clarion call to action. The irony is that we are the victims of our own success: As the AIDS situation improves, with better treatments and more people being able to access them, the urgency of winning the war against AIDS here in the U.S. and around the globe has diminished. As a result, HIV/AIDS is increasingly pitted against other important issues as far as funding as well as for the attention of policy makers. It is critical that we continue to speak out through events like KTP in order to remind governments, public health officials and other stakeholders to keep the promise on AIDS and other key public health issues.”

Activists Common, Harry Belafonte on front lines for HIV justice — HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 30: Guests take part in AIDS Healthcare Foundations Keep the Promise March in Hollywood, CA on November 30, 2016. Thousands marched down historic Hollywood Boulevard on the eve of World AIDS Day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to persuade key decision makers in the US and around the globe to keep the promise and commit more funds to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. A free Keep the Promise concert at the Dolby Theatre headlined by Patti LaBelle and Common and honoring legen-dary entertainer and humanitarian Harry Belafonte for his charitable work followed the march. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation)

AHF honored legendary entertainer, Harry Belafonte with AHF’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his charitable efforts and advocacy around the world.

“The voices of the world were heard last night in Hollywood, Mexico City and Phnom Penh. More than a thousand people marched in the streets. Some of the greatest artists of any generation came together on the same stage for one cause. An iconic artist, entertainer and activist was honored for his fearless advocacy as part of the global Keep the Promise campaign,” Weinstein praises.

KTP Marchers will gathered on Schrader Blvd. south of Hollywood Blvd. Marchers were given priority seating for the concert.