Somos Uno Action
Author: Alfredo González
Date: 1990
Demonstration: Somos Uno, Disaster Zone Protests in Albany
People: Luis Salazar, Fernando Mariscal, Gilbert Martinez
Description: The Somos Uno action was the first direct action of Latina/o Caucus. The plan was to infiltrate a meeting of the New York State Assembly Hispanic Taskforce in Albany and pressure Latino officials to respond to the AIDS crises in their districts. Somos Uno was the Taskforce's annual convening of elected officials and power brokers. This photo was taken right before the intervention.
The LC secured tickets to attend the gala, rented suits and sewed flyers into their pockets. While they were inside the cocktail party, they started throwing the flyers in the air, shouting “ACT UP, Fight AIDS” until they were forceably removed one by one.
The action at Somos Unos denounced the negligence and silence of Latino elected officials. The following day the LC was able to meet with key politicians, including Olga Mendez, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the mainland United States.
The Caucus succeeded in getting HIV/ AIDS on the agenda of the attendees and in proving that they could work as a collective.
Collection: Fernando Mariscal