WATERS LEADS FIGHT AGAINST AIDS IN MINORITIES

Representative Maxine Waters, (D-CA) led a contingent of over 100 African-American activists at a Los Angeles summit designed to implement strategies to combat AIDS and HIV in minorities. Currently, one in every 50 black men and one in every 150 black women are infected with the HIV virus, and leaders fear that what is happening in Africa could spread to "our own backyard."

Nationally, the Congressional Black Caucus has asked President Bush to declare AIDS among minorities a national emergency and requested $550 million for outreach programs and research. Locally, the activists plan to hold "community teach-ins," distribute condoms in hotels, barbershops, and beauty salons, and reach out to community members at schools, malls, and sporting events.

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