December 2, 2005

For Immediate release
Contact: Eddie Martinez, 323-257-1056 Ext 28


Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist Clergy Lead World AIDS Day Observance at AIDS Monument

"Hope & Faith" theme reflects the spiritual and religious dimension often absent in the fight against AIDS.

CBS 2 News anchorwoman Laura Diaz, serving as mistress of ceremonies, joined 19 members of the clergy, who represent four major faith traditions, for the 12th annual Noche de las Memorias / World AIDS Day observance in Lincoln Park, just east of downtown Los Angeles. Several hundred people, including parents, family and friends who have lost loved ones to AIDS, attended.

The evening began with a symbolic candlelight walk around the lake at Lincoln Park led by Danza Azteca Ketzalitzli and ended at the monument site. The program that followed included the reading of names etched on the monument panels and reflections offered by the clergy. Several attendees brought mementos (ie, photos) of their loved ones to place on makeshift altar at the monument site.

Richard Zaldivar, executive director and founder of The Wall-Las Memorias Project, paid special tribute to the late Congressman Ed Roybal for early leadership in the fight against AIDS. Zaldivar also honored several individuals for their support of the monument, including Starline Nursery, Allen Ross, ARTCO.

The theme of this years Noche de las Memorias is Hope and Faith, and the large and diverse assembly of clergy reflects this years emphasis on the spiritual and religious dimensions of AIDS.

Many of us gather tonight as people who have faith in a creator who watches over us and who wants his people to heal and be whole, said Father Will Wauters of Epiphany Episcopal Church in Lincoln Heights. His faith in us is that we will respond as a community with compassion, generosity and justicenot only here in Lincoln Heights and Los Angeles, but worldwide.

Sadly, many people believe they cannot turn to their church to seek shelter from the storm of this disease, said Richard Zaldivar, founder and executive director of The Wall-Las Memorias Project, the organizer of the event. Tonight, we bring together clergy to show our community and the world that every faith tradition is compassionate and welcoming to people affected by AIDS.

Major sponsors of Noche de las Memorias include Adelphia, Blue Cross of California, CBS 2 / KCAL 9, Midtowne Spa and Coca Cola.

The mission of The Wall-Las Memorias Project (www.thewalllasmemorias.org) is to educate the Latino community about HIV/AIDS and the ways that shame, denial and fear contribute to the spread of HIV. The organization led the construction of the AIDS monument which is not only a memorial to those who have died of AIDS, but a place for family members and friends to visit and seek solace, and, most important, an educational tool in the fight against HIV.

Most recently, the organization has taken a lead role in addressing the growing crystal meth/methamphetamine epidemic. Many public health and AIDS leaders consider crystal meth to be one of the key factors in driving the recent surge in HIV infections.
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