Activists with ACT UP marked their 39th anniversary with a die-in protest in New York City, targeting Palantir Technologies over federal spending priorities. Dozens of demonstrators lay motionless on a busy Manhattan street Saturday, echoing historic AIDS-era protests. The action followed a larger rally at the New York City AIDS Memorial, with hundreds marching to Palantir’s office in the Flatiron District.
Organizers criticized government spending on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. war against Iran, while HIV care funding faces cuts. Eric Sawyer, a founder of ACT UP New York who helped organize the protest, said, “The Trump administration is ‘spending more money on war than they are on health care. They’re spending more money on ice than they are on AIDS care…We think those priorities are way out of line with American priorities.”
Protesters also honored longtime HIV activist Mark Milano, who died in January. Speakers emphasized the continued need for in-person activism, even as HIV treatment has improved. Organizers said the protest is part of an ongoing effort to influence voters ahead of upcoming elections and push for policies supporting health care and social programs.
