Members of ACT UP Philadelphia carried body bags through Center City Thursday morning to protest police brutality.
The action was notable as the first in ACT UP’s nearly two decades in operation to address a social-justice issue not related to HIV/AIDS.
About two-dozen protestors took part in the action, which began at the Municipal Services Building shortly after 12:30 p.m. The body bags were meant to symbolize Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and others who have recently died at the hands of law enforcement. Marchers proceeded to the campaign headquarters for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, at 18th and Market streets.
The group demanded Clinton commit to backing policies that would require law-enforcement officers be vetted for mental-health issues and incidents of racism before they are issued firearms.
“People of color now have medications and treatment for HIV and may live longer lives but being shot to death by police is a distinct possibility,” ACT UP member Jamaal Henderson said in a statement.
“Shooting unarmed people of color to death without convictions or dismissal sends a clear message: open season on people of color,” added Jon Rose. “It says our lives don’t matter.”
The action comes just days before 50,000 Democrats and media are expected to flood into Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention, during which Clinton will accept the Democratic nomination for president.
“Hillary Clinton must earn the votes of people of color,” said ACT UP’s Erica Goldberg. “She cannot assume people of color will vote Democratic or vote at all.”