AHF to commemorate 50th Anniversary of VRA with star studded free concert and voter registration rally
buzzz worthy. . .
AHF: Patti LaBelle, Common, Rev. Al Sharpton Headline Atlanta Show Marking 50th Anniversary of Voting Rights Act
AHF: Patti LaBelle, Common, Rev. Al Sharpton Headline Atlanta Show Marking 50th Anniversary of Voting Rights Act
“Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter” free concert and voter registration rally will commemorate 50th Anniversary of Voting Rights Act of 1965; promote action to address HIV/AIDS, health disparities in black and Latino communities
(Black PR Wire) -- LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest AIDS organization, and the AHF Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce (ABACT) will host a free concert and voter registration rally on August 6th at 7 PM at the historic FOX Theatre in Atlanta, GA to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and draw attention to health disparities that continue to affect communities of color. Featuring live music performances by Grammy- and Oscar-winning rapper/actor Common, legendary singer/actress Patti LaBelle, a keynote address by National Action Network Founder and President Rev. Al Sharpton and appearances by other special guests including the Prancing Elites of Oxygen Media’s The Prancing Elites Project, “Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter!” will issue a grassroots call-to-action for black voters to play an active role in the 2016 elections and call for increased governmental resources directed towards the prevention, care and treatment for HIV/AIDS in black and Latino communities—the ethnic groups statistics show are the most affected by HIV.
WHAT: “Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter!”
Free concert and voter registration rally to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and draw attention to the impact of HIV/AIDS on black and Latino communities. On-site voter registration will be available before and after the concert.
WHEN: Thursday, August 6th 2015
7 PM
VENUE DOORS OPEN: 6:45PM
WHERE: FOX Theatre
660 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
WHO: Common, Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning rapper/actor
Patti LaBelle, Grammy-winning singer/actress
Rev. Al Sharpton, keynote speaker
Prancing Elites, dance group and stars of Oxygen Media’s The Prancing Elites Project
Thomas Buttenschøn, musical composer and artist
Gary with Da Tea (event co-host), radio personality, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show
Maria More (event co-host), radio personality, Hot 107.9 FM
Special invited guests, including elected officials and celebrities
“Fifty years ago, our nation stood at a critical crossroads in the fight for racial equality when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to underscore the constitutional right of every American to take part in our country’s electoral process,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “We are gathering in Atlanta—the home of the civil rights movement—fifty years to the day of this momentous event to focus attention on the most urgent public health crisis of our time that so disproportionately affects African Americans. With the states of the old Confederacy being the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America, we’re honored to have Patti LaBelle, Common, Rev. Al Sharpton join us in Atlanta to call for public mobilization and action to stop this epidemic.”
Sponsored by AHF, Reed for Hope Foundation / LoveHealthy.org and AID Atlanta, the “Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter!” concert and rally builds upon the successful “AIDS Is A Civil Rights Issue” national public awareness campaign created by AHF in 2014 in partnership with Rev. Al Sharpton, the National Action Network, local churches, and community groups to honor the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, foster dialogue on ending HIV and sexual stigma within black families, and encourage community-wide testing and treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), black Americans account for 44% of all people with HIV/AIDS in the United States, yet only account for 12% of the population. Latinos account for 21% of all new HIV infections nationwide, yet only represent 16% of the U.S. population. Locally, Atlanta currently ranks #3 in the nation for cities with the highest rates of new syphilis and HIV infections and the state of Georgia ranks #5 in the United States for new HIV infections.
WHAT: “Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter!”
Free concert and voter registration rally to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and draw attention to the impact of HIV/AIDS on black and Latino communities. On-site voter registration will be available before and after the concert.
WHEN: Thursday, August 6th 2015
7 PM
VENUE DOORS OPEN: 6:45PM
WHERE: FOX Theatre
660 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
WHO: Common, Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning rapper/actor
Patti LaBelle, Grammy-winning singer/actress
Rev. Al Sharpton, keynote speaker
Prancing Elites, dance group and stars of Oxygen Media’s The Prancing Elites Project
Thomas Buttenschøn, musical composer and artist
Gary with Da Tea (event co-host), radio personality, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show
Maria More (event co-host), radio personality, Hot 107.9 FM
Special invited guests, including elected officials and celebrities
“Fifty years ago, our nation stood at a critical crossroads in the fight for racial equality when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to underscore the constitutional right of every American to take part in our country’s electoral process,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “We are gathering in Atlanta—the home of the civil rights movement—fifty years to the day of this momentous event to focus attention on the most urgent public health crisis of our time that so disproportionately affects African Americans. With the states of the old Confederacy being the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America, we’re honored to have Patti LaBelle, Common, Rev. Al Sharpton join us in Atlanta to call for public mobilization and action to stop this epidemic.”
Sponsored by AHF, Reed for Hope Foundation / LoveHealthy.org and AID Atlanta, the “Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter!” concert and rally builds upon the successful “AIDS Is A Civil Rights Issue” national public awareness campaign created by AHF in 2014 in partnership with Rev. Al Sharpton, the National Action Network, local churches, and community groups to honor the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, foster dialogue on ending HIV and sexual stigma within black families, and encourage community-wide testing and treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), black Americans account for 44% of all people with HIV/AIDS in the United States, yet only account for 12% of the population. Latinos account for 21% of all new HIV infections nationwide, yet only represent 16% of the U.S. population. Locally, Atlanta currently ranks #3 in the nation for cities with the highest rates of new syphilis and HIV infections and the state of Georgia ranks #5 in the United States for new HIV infections.
