Media Advisory                                                                                 Contact Media Coordinators

April  22, 1997                                                                                  Ellis Sulser - 703 / 860-5000

                                                                                                         Jay Walker - 703 / 426-2171

                                                                                                         Val D. Bias - 202 / 833- 0085

 

Students Hold White House Candle Light Memorial

For thousands of Americans infected with HIV/AIDS through Blood Products

 

How many more years must pass before our Washington politicians recognize the horrible loss of life resulting from HIV contaminated blood products? This is why marketing students from Oakton and Robinson High Schools (Fairfax, Va.) have taken a proactive stand in the name of free enterprise and consumer justice.

 

April 22 has been selected as a National day of mourning for the 6,000 hemophilia person's who have died from AIDS. A Silent Memorial displaying photographs (20' x 30') of deceased HIV infected hemophilia's will be on display from the West steps of the U.S. Capitol from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. The White House Candle Light Exhibition will begin in Lafayette Park at 7:15 p.m. to honor the lost souls of this tragedy. We are hoping this will draw attention to The Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Bill before both houses of congress.

 

The students have spent the past 17 months lobbying for the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Bill. The bill (H.R. 1023 & S. 358) would establish a trust fund to partially compensate hemophilia person's infected with HIV in the 1980's through contaminated blood products. The bipartisan support of more than 195 Congressmen and Senators will make a difference for three generations of hemophilia suffers as well as their families who have endured the nightmare of AIDS.

 

The hemophilia holocaust has been called the worst medical disaster in American history! Please, place the Silent Memorial & White House Candle Light Exhibition on your daybook for April 22. Mrs. Louise Ray, mother of Ricky and several hundred others will be in attendance

 

[x] U. S. Capitol Silent Picture Memorial (west steps) 5:30‑6:30 p.m.
[x] White House Candle Light Exhibition (Lafayette Park / White House Sidewalk) 7:15‑8:30 p.m.

 

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