Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 14:00:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Ron Buckmire Subject: U.S. AIDS Czar Office Under Siege by Gay Activists ACTIVISTS SEIZE OFFICE OF PRESIDENTIAL AIDS CZAR THURMAN, DEMANDING CLINTON REVERSE DEADLY DECISION ON NEEDLE EXCHANGE Protestors call for White House to veto bill permanently banning federal funds for needle-related AIDS prevention WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A group of 12 activists demanding that President Clinton fund needle exchange programs to prevent the spread of AIDS, has just seized control of the office of Sandra Thurman, Presidential AIDS Policy Coordinator. The siege took place shortly after 11AM. Thurman's office is at 736 Jackson Place near H Street. The activists have chained themselves in- side the office, and are willing to risk arrest. The protestors, including members of the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! and ACT UP, are demanding that President Clinton oppose and promise to veto Senate Bill 1959, now pending, which would permanently prohibit federal funds for needle exchange, and wipe out other vital AIDS services. An identical bill (HR 1737) has already passed the House. Sandra Thurman recently told community advocates that Clinton would sign the bill into law, if it passes both Houses. The activists also called for Clinton to dismiss drug czar Barry McCaffrey, who has opposed needle exchange by misrepresent- ing scientific evidence. During the takeover, activists displayed a banner outside of Thurman's window, proclaiming, "Clinton: Clean Needles Save Lives." Experts say that 33 Americans are infected with HIV due to sharing dirty needles. While local funding allows 120 needle ex- change programs nationwide to operate, they reach only a frac- tion of the people at risk. Despite numerous studies affirming that needle exchange lowers HIV transmission while not in- creasing drug use -- officially recognized by Health Secretary Donna Shalala -- the ban was maintained in an April 20 decision by President Clinton. The Chair of the Presidential AIDS Advi- sory Council called the decision "immoral." "President Clinton's April 20 act of cowardice spells death for tens of thousands of American men, women and children," said Chris Lanier, Coordinator of the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! "We've taken drastic action today to insist that human lives not be sacrificed to political expediency!" WHY WE ARE HERE We are activists from the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! (a network of over 300 needle exchange programs, AIDS service providers and religious organizations), ACT UP/New York and the Harm Reduction Coalition, along with directors and staff members of needle exchange programs in four cities. We have occupied the office of Presidential AIDS Policy Coordinator Sandra Thurman today to demand that Ms. Thurman publicly and aggressively demand that the Administration's needle exchange policy put human lives before political expediency. *I thought that Sandra Thurman supports *needle exchange. Why target someone who's *on your side? Sandra Thurman is the President's chief spokesperson and ad- viser on AIDS. Although her position is -- contrary to Clinton's 1992 campaign promise of a powerful AIDS czar -- largely sym- bolic, she likes to claim that she is a vigorous advocate for AIDS prevention and care. It is true that Ms. Thurman lobbied for lift- ing the federal funding ban prior to Clinton's April 20 decision. But since then, she has refused to publicly criticize her boss, even as other mainstream political figures and prestigious newspapers were doing so. The Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Scott Hitt, called Clinton's decision "hypocrisy...a lie...immoral." Rep. Maxine Waters, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus--which had called for lifting the ban months earlier--called it "shameful" and "inconceivable." Even Clinton's newly appointed Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher, drew headlines for saying he was "disappointed." Yet Thurman "made no public comment," The New York Times reported on the day after the decision. And at the World AIDS Conference in Geneva two weeks ago, Ms. Thurman delivered a passionate defense of the Administra- tion's AIDS prevention policies. When confronted on needle exchange by angry ACT UP members, Ms. Thurman said, "It's unfortunate we haven't been able to implement this funding be- cause of the conservative political environment. We're doing all we can." Ms. Thurman can't have it both ways. Either she is a genuine advocate for AIDS prevention -- which means publicly demand- ing a reversal of the heinous April 20 decision and the even more restrictive Congressional bill -- or she is an apologist for one of the greatest moral outrages of our time: the decision to willfully allow thousands of men, women and children to get sick and die for purely political reasons. *Isn't your real beef with Congress? Didn't they *impose the funding ban in the first place? Congress did indeed impose a ban in 1989, but allowed the Sec- retary of Health and Human Services to lift it if two criteria were met: that needle exchange programs decrease HIV transmission and do not encourage illegal drug use. By 1993, when Donna Shalala took office, several federally financed studies had found both things to be true. Yet Shalala dodged and dissembled for five years, amidst outcries from every major public health or- ganization, many mayors and law enforcement officials and all leading AIDS organizations, and several demonstrations by the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! and ACT UP. Finally, on April 20 of this year, she recognized the obvious and certified that both conditions have been met. Yet she accepted President Clinton's decision to ignore that overwhelming evidence and keep the ban in place. Clinton and Shalala retain the legal power to act on their own. They do not need Congressional authority. President Clinton's refusal to publicly fight for rational health policy has been an obstacle in rallying against the let-them-die mentality among right-wing members of Congress. But even if the pending Congressional legislation to revoke Shalala's authority should pass, President Clinton can veto it, and it could only become law by a 2/3 vote of both Houses to over- ride. Experts say there are definitely not enough votes to accom- plish this. Thus, Ms. Thurman's constant refrain of "Blame Con- gress" rings hollow. *Doesn't the President's "Drug Czar," Gen- *eral Barry McCaffrey, say that needle ex- *change programs don't work and undermine *efforts to stem drug use? The General has a habit of falsifying data on drug policy to suit his agenda. Just last week, while in the Netherlands attacking their more humane drug policies, McCaffrey "said, mistakenly, that the Dutch murder rate far outstripped that of the United States." (New York Times) Here at home, numerous federal studies have found absolutely no evidence that needle ex- change encourages, increases or initiates drug use. Indeed, needle exchange programs reach drug users which other types of programs have failed to, providing a range of health care services including access to drug treatment. Yet in April, McCaffrey wrote Congress a letter citing two Canadian studies to claim that needle exchange programs actually increase HIV transmission. The studies' authors wrote a New York Times Op-Ed that "not only contradicted Mr. McCaffrey but endorsed needle exchange." (New York Observer). After McCaffrey bullied Clinton into maintaining the ban, 18 members of the Congressional Black Caucus called for the President to fire him. Caucus member Eleanor Holmes Norton told the Sacremento Bee, "In the face of compelling evidence, Barry McCaffrey has used brutal tactics within the administration to subvert a decision on needle- exchange programs." Yet rather than criticize him, Sandra Thurman was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying, "General McCaffrey is every bit as committed to stopping the AIDS epidemic as I am." *Hasn't the Clinton Administration *done a lot in the fight against AIDS? The Administration's policy has consistently emphasized—but never adequately met the needs for—AIDS care and research. Meanwhile, even Clinton's own AIDS Advisory Council has re- peatedly criticized him for refusing to make the difficult deci- sions necessary to prevent the spread of the virus, whether through safer sex education or clean needle access. As a result, as the CDC reported in late April, the rate of new cases of HIV has remained steady, with infection rates rising among women and people of color. President Clinton's willingness to allow vulnerable Americans to become ill--despite proven preven- tion methods like needle exchange--and then spend billions for their care, is an unsustainable and morally indefensible stance. OUR DEMANDS We demand that Sandra Thurman immedi- ately issue a public statement in which she: 1. Joins the leadership of public health, AIDS, African-American and Latino organizations in condemning President Clinton's murderous decision to maintain the needle-exchange funding ban, and demanding that he immediately reverse it. 2. Insists that President Clinton publicly oppose and pledge to veto any Congressional legislation revoking Secretary Shalala's authority to lift the ban or extending the ban to include unrelated "indirect" funding of other vital AIDS services. 3. Echoes the call of the Congressional Black Caucus to remove General Barry McCaffrey as National Drug Policy Coordina- tor for lying about the data on needle exchange programs and campaigning against these life-saving measures. CHRONOLOGY OF MURDEROUS FEDERAL NEEDLE-EXCHANGE POLICY 1989 - Congress relaxes ban on federal funding for needle ex- change, allowing the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) or Surgeon General to lift the ban if they find that the programs 1) decrease HIV transmission and 2) do not encourage illegal drug use. 1991 - President Bush's AIDS Commission calls for lifting the ban, based on adequate evidence on both points. 1992 - Facing continual protests by ACT UP, candidate Bill Clinton promises to lift the ban and implement all other AIDS Commission recommendations if elected. 1993 - After Clinton and Shalala enter office, they take no steps to lift the ban. October 1994 - After several federal studies find the 2 criteria have been met, Shalala authorizes Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders to lift the ban after the Congressional elections. HHS press release is drafted. November 1994 - Republicans unexpectedly sweep Congress. Shalala cancels Elders' authorization to lift the ban. (This ac- count has been confirmed in writing by Elders and published in POZ Magazine.) Soon thereafter, Clinton fires Elders for her honest comments on AIDS prevention. December 1995 - At White House AIDS Conference, hundreds of protesters demand "Action, Not Words," including lifting the ban. Pressed by reporters, Shalala blames a "controversy over the research" on needle exchange for postponing a decision. January 1996 - Joint statement by dozens of scientists blasts Shalala for lying about the unanimous scientific opinion that nee- dle exchange saves lives. September 1996 - Congress orders Shalala to write a report by February 1997 summarizing the research. February 1997 - Shalala issues report concluding that needle exchange reduces HIV transmission, but remaining silent on the question of encouraging drug use, although the report itself cites evidence that needle exchange does not do so. September 1997 - 1,000 protestors organized by the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! march on Shalala's office. 11 ar- rested attempting to deliver a giant spine to Shalala. Fall 1997 - Congress freezes Shalala's authority to lift the ban until April 1, 1998. Clinton neither opposes this amendment while under consideration, nor vetoes the bill containing it. mid-April 1998 - After massive lobbying campaign by broad array of health, AIDS and other organizations, Clinton agrees to lift the ban on a limited basis. Press release is prepared for Sha- lala's announcement. April 19 - On plane ride back from Chile with Clinton, Gen. McCaffrey privately threatens to resign and expose Clinton as "soft on drugs" if he allows Shalala to lift the ban. April 20 - Clinton reverses course and bars Shalala from ever lifting the ban, but allows her to certify that needle exchange meets the Congressional criteria for funding. Condemnations pour in from leaders in public health, AIDS, African-American and Latino organizations. Thurman makes no comment. April 29 - Emboldened by Clinton's refusal to defend needle exchange, House passes bill to permanently outlaw funding for needle exchange and any other associated AIDS services run by needle exchange programs. April - June - As condemnations of the Administration's deci- sion pour in from all quarters, including editorials in major dai- lies, ACT UP protests by hundreds disrupt Shalala's public ap- pearances in Berkeley and Philadelphia, and demonstrations greet Clinton's appearances in New York City (1,000 march in June when he speaks at UN). July 1 - At World AIDS Conference in Geneva, Thurman de- fends Clinton's AIDS prevention policies and responds to ACT UP protest on needle-exchange by saying, "We're doing all we can." July 20 - Senate bill identical to House bill, actively supported by Majority Leader Trent Lott, poised to pass at any moment. EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT SINCE CLINTON TOOK OFFICE, 10,000 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAVE BECOME INFECTED WITH HIV AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FEDERAL BAN You can make requests for info./materials and offer feedback to the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! at 212-213-6376, x17; fax. 212-213-6582, or e-mail ncsln@dti.net Page 2 The Harm Reduction Coalition 22 West 27th Street, 9th Floor , New York, NY 10001, 212.213.6376 x17, fax 212.213.6582 email: ncsln@dti.net, website: http://www.harmreduction.org Friday, July 17, 1998 -- Chris Lanier National Coalition to Save Lives Now! c/o the Harm Reduction Coalition 22 West 27th Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10001 212-213-6376, x17 fax. 212-213-6582 email: ncsln@dti.net -- Chris Lanier National Coalition to Save Lives Now! c/o the Harm Reduction Coalition 22 West 27th Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10001 212-213-6376, x17 fax. 212-213-6582 email: ncsln@dti.net --------------589110F93ED3 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-ID: <35B1C5B7.13A5@dti.net> Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 03:08:55 -0700 From: Chris Lanier Reply-To: ncsln@dti.net Organization: NCSLN X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (Win95; I; 16bit) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: harmred@drcnet.org, nep@drcnet.org, ncsln@drugtext.nl, arodemo@drugsense.org, aidsact@CritPath.Org, aromedia@drugsense.org Subject: RESIST Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit ACTIVISTS SEIZE OFFICE OF PRESIDENTIAL AIDS CZAR THURMAN, DEMANDING CLINTON REVERSE DEADLY DECISION ON NEEDLE EXCHANGE Protestors call for White House to veto bill permanently banning federal funds for needle-related AIDS prevention WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A group of 12 activists demanding that President Clinton fund needle exchange programs to prevent the spread of AIDS, has just seized control of the office of Sandra Thurman, Presidential AIDS Policy Coordinator. The siege took place shortly after 11AM. Thurman's office is at 736 Jackson Place near H Street. The activists have chained themselves in- side the office, and are willing to risk arrest. The protestors, including members of the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! and ACT UP, are demanding that President Clinton oppose and promise to veto Senate Bill 1959, now pending, which would permanently prohibit federal funds for needle exchange, and wipe out other vital AIDS services. An identical bill (HR 1737) has already passed the House. Sandra Thurman recently told community advocates that Clinton would sign the bill into law, if it passes both Houses. The activists also called for Clinton to dismiss drug czar Barry McCaffrey, who has opposed needle exchange by misrepresent- ing scientific evidence. During the takeover, activists displayed a banner outside of Thurman's window, proclaiming, "Clinton: Clean Needles Save Lives." Experts say that 33 Americans are infected with HIV due to sharing dirty needles. While local funding allows 120 needle ex- change programs nationwide to operate, they reach only a frac- tion of the people at risk. Despite numerous studies affirming that needle exchange lowers HIV transmission while not in- creasing drug use -- officially recognized by Health Secretary Donna Shalala -- the ban was maintained in an April 20 decision by President Clinton. The Chair of the Presidential AIDS Advi- sory Council called the decision "immoral." "President Clinton's April 20 act of cowardice spells death for tens of thousands of American men, women and children," said Chris Lanier, Coordinator of the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! "We've taken drastic action today to insist that human lives not be sacrificed to political expediency!" WHY WE ARE HERE We are activists from the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! (a network of over 300 needle exchange programs, AIDS service providers and religious organizations), ACT UP/New York and the Harm Reduction Coalition, along with directors and staff members of needle exchange programs in four cities. We have occupied the office of Presidential AIDS Policy Coordinator Sandra Thurman today to demand that Ms. Thurman publicly and aggressively demand that the Administration's needle exchange policy put human lives before political expediency. *I thought that Sandra Thurman supports *needle exchange. Why target someone who's *on your side? Sandra Thurman is the President's chief spokesperson and ad- viser on AIDS. Although her position is -- contrary to Clinton's 1992 campaign promise of a powerful AIDS czar -- largely sym- bolic, she likes to claim that she is a vigorous advocate for AIDS prevention and care. It is true that Ms. Thurman lobbied for lift- ing the federal funding ban prior to Clinton's April 20 decision. But since then, she has refused to publicly criticize her boss, even as other mainstream political figures and prestigious newspapers were doing so. The Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Scott Hitt, called Clinton's decision "hypocrisy...a lie...immoral." Rep. Maxine Waters, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus--which had called for lifting the ban months earlier--called it "shameful" and "inconceivable." Even Clinton's newly appointed Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher, drew headlines for saying he was "disappointed." Yet Thurman "made no public comment," The New York Times reported on the day after the decision. And at the World AIDS Conference in Geneva two weeks ago, Ms. Thurman delivered a passionate defense of the Administra- tion's AIDS prevention policies. When confronted on needle exchange by angry ACT UP members, Ms. Thurman said, "It's unfortunate we haven't been able to implement this funding be- cause of the conservative political environment. We're doing all we can." Ms. Thurman can't have it both ways. Either she is a genuine advocate for AIDS prevention -- which means publicly demand- ing a reversal of the heinous April 20 decision and the even more restrictive Congressional bill -- or she is an apologist for one of the greatest moral outrages of our time: the decision to willfully allow thousands of men, women and children to get sick and die for purely political reasons. *Isn't your real beef with Congress? Didn't they *impose the funding ban in the first place? Congress did indeed impose a ban in 1989, but allowed the Sec- retary of Health and Human Services to lift it if two criteria were met: that needle exchange programs decrease HIV transmission and do not encourage illegal drug use. By 1993, when Donna Shalala took office, several federally financed studies had found both things to be true. Yet Shalala dodged and dissembled for five years, amidst outcries from every major public health or- ganization, many mayors and law enforcement officials and all leading AIDS organizations, and several demonstrations by the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! and ACT UP. Finally, on April 20 of this year, she recognized the obvious and certified that both conditions have been met. Yet she accepted President Clinton's decision to ignore that overwhelming evidence and keep the ban in place. Clinton and Shalala retain the legal power to act on their own. They do not need Congressional authority. President Clinton's refusal to publicly fight for rational health policy has been an obstacle in rallying against the let-them-die mentality among right-wing members of Congress. But even if the pending Congressional legislation to revoke Shalala's authority should pass, President Clinton can veto it, and it could only become law by a 2/3 vote of both Houses to over- ride. Experts say there are definitely not enough votes to accom- plish this. Thus, Ms. Thurman's constant refrain of "Blame Con- gress" rings hollow. *Doesn't the President's "Drug Czar," Gen- *eral Barry McCaffrey, say that needle ex- *change programs don't work and undermine *efforts to stem drug use? The General has a habit of falsifying data on drug policy to suit his agenda. Just last week, while in the Netherlands attacking their more humane drug policies, McCaffrey "said, mistakenly, that the Dutch murder rate far outstripped that of the United States." (New York Times) Here at home, numerous federal studies have found absolutely no evidence that needle ex- change encourages, increases or initiates drug use. Indeed, needle exchange programs reach drug users which other types of programs have failed to, providing a range of health care services including access to drug treatment. Yet in April, McCaffrey wrote Congress a letter citing two Canadian studies to claim that needle exchange programs actually increase HIV transmission. The studies' authors wrote a New York Times Op-Ed that "not only contradicted Mr. McCaffrey but endorsed needle exchange." (New York Observer). After McCaffrey bullied Clinton into maintaining the ban, 18 members of the Congressional Black Caucus called for the President to fire him. Caucus member Eleanor Holmes Norton told the Sacremento Bee, "In the face of compelling evidence, Barry McCaffrey has used brutal tactics within the administration to subvert a decision on needle- exchange programs." Yet rather than criticize him, Sandra Thurman was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying, "General McCaffrey is every bit as committed to stopping the AIDS epidemic as I am." *Hasn't the Clinton Administration *done a lot in the fight against AIDS? The Administration's policy has consistently emphasized—but never adequately met the needs for—AIDS care and research. Meanwhile, even Clinton's own AIDS Advisory Council has re- peatedly criticized him for refusing to make the difficult deci- sions necessary to prevent the spread of the virus, whether through safer sex education or clean needle access. As a result, as the CDC reported in late April, the rate of new cases of HIV has remained steady, with infection rates rising among women and people of color. President Clinton's willingness to allow vulnerable Americans to become ill--despite proven preven- tion methods like needle exchange--and then spend billions for their care, is an unsustainable and morally indefensible stance. OUR DEMANDS We demand that Sandra Thurman immedi- ately issue a public statement in which she: 1. Joins the leadership of public health, AIDS, African-American and Latino organizations in condemning President Clinton's murderous decision to maintain the needle-exchange funding ban, and demanding that he immediately reverse it. 2. Insists that President Clinton publicly oppose and pledge to veto any Congressional legislation revoking Secretary Shalala's authority to lift the ban or extending the ban to include unrelated "indirect" funding of other vital AIDS services. 3. Echoes the call of the Congressional Black Caucus to remove General Barry McCaffrey as National Drug Policy Coordina- tor for lying about the data on needle exchange programs and campaigning against these life-saving measures. CHRONOLOGY OF MURDEROUS FEDERAL NEEDLE-EXCHANGE POLICY 1989 - Congress relaxes ban on federal funding for needle ex- change, allowing the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) or Surgeon General to lift the ban if they find that the programs 1) decrease HIV transmission and 2) do not encourage illegal drug use. 1991 - President Bush's AIDS Commission calls for lifting the ban, based on adequate evidence on both points. 1992 - Facing continual protests by ACT UP, candidate Bill Clinton promises to lift the ban and implement all other AIDS Commission recommendations if elected. 1993 - After Clinton and Shalala enter office, they take no steps to lift the ban. October 1994 - After several federal studies find the 2 criteria have been met, Shalala authorizes Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders to lift the ban after the Congressional elections. HHS press release is drafted. November 1994 - Republicans unexpectedly sweep Congress. Shalala cancels Elders' authorization to lift the ban. (This ac- count has been confirmed in writing by Elders and published in POZ Magazine.) Soon thereafter, Clinton fires Elders for her honest comments on AIDS prevention. December 1995 - At White House AIDS Conference, hundreds of protesters demand "Action, Not Words," including lifting the ban. Pressed by reporters, Shalala blames a "controversy over the research" on needle exchange for postponing a decision. January 1996 - Joint statement by dozens of scientists blasts Shalala for lying about the unanimous scientific opinion that nee- dle exchange saves lives. September 1996 - Congress orders Shalala to write a report by February 1997 summarizing the research. February 1997 - Shalala issues report concluding that needle exchange reduces HIV transmission, but remaining silent on the question of encouraging drug use, although the report itself cites evidence that needle exchange does not do so. September 1997 - 1,000 protestors organized by the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! march on Shalala's office. 11 ar- rested attempting to deliver a giant spine to Shalala. Fall 1997 - Congress freezes Shalala's authority to lift the ban until April 1, 1998. Clinton neither opposes this amendment while under consideration, nor vetoes the bill containing it. mid-April 1998 - After massive lobbying campaign by broad array of health, AIDS and other organizations, Clinton agrees to lift the ban on a limited basis. Press release is prepared for Sha- lala's announcement. April 19 - On plane ride back from Chile with Clinton, Gen. McCaffrey privately threatens to resign and expose Clinton as "soft on drugs" if he allows Shalala to lift the ban. April 20 - Clinton reverses course and bars Shalala from ever lifting the ban, but allows her to certify that needle exchange meets the Congressional criteria for funding. Condemnations pour in from leaders in public health, AIDS, African-American and Latino organizations. Thurman makes no comment. April 29 - Emboldened by Clinton's refusal to defend needle exchange, House passes bill to permanently outlaw funding for needle exchange and any other associated AIDS services run by needle exchange programs. April - June - As condemnations of the Administration's deci- sion pour in from all quarters, including editorials in major dai- lies, ACT UP protests by hundreds disrupt Shalala's public ap- pearances in Berkeley and Philadelphia, and demonstrations greet Clinton's appearances in New York City (1,000 march in June when he speaks at UN). July 1 - At World AIDS Conference in Geneva, Thurman de- fends Clinton's AIDS prevention policies and responds to ACT UP protest on needle-exchange by saying, "We're doing all we can." July 20 - Senate bill identical to House bill, actively supported by Majority Leader Trent Lott, poised to pass at any moment. EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT SINCE CLINTON TOOK OFFICE, 10,000 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAVE BECOME INFECTED WITH HIV AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FEDERAL BAN You can make requests for info./materials and offer feedback to the National Coalition to Save Lives Now! at 212-213-6376, x17; fax. 212-213-6582, or e-mail ncsln@dti.net Page 2 The Harm Reduction Coalition 22 West 27th Street, 9th Floor , New York, NY 10001, 212.213.6376 x17, fax 212.213.6582 email: ncsln@dti.net, website: http://www.harmreduction.org Friday, July 17, 1998 -- Chris Lanier National Coalition to Save Lives Now! c/o the Harm Reduction Coalition 22 West 27th Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10001 212-213-6376, x17 fax. 212-213-6582 email: ncsln@dti.net