A pedestrian passes a banner on AIDS at the New York City AIDS Memorial Park in New York City, the United States, on Dec. 1, 2023. Multiple events were held in New York City on Friday to commemorate the annual World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Multiple events were held in New York City on Friday to commemorate the 35th annual World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1.
The New York City AIDS Memorial, a non-profit organization honoring the 100,000-plus New Yorkers who have died of AIDS, orchestrated an eight-hour reading of the names of New Yorkers whose lives were cut short by AIDS.
People read the names in relays at the New York City AIDS Memorial Park in the West Village of Lower Manhattan.
The memorial also held an annual candlelight vigil with the theme of "Leading With Kindness" followed by a performance. Scores of people attended the vigil and performance though it was dark and raining.
AIDS is still a pressing issue in New York with over 120,000 New Yorkers living with HIV and new diagnosis every year, according to Dave Harper, executive director of the New York City AIDS Memorial.
New York City had 1,624 people newly diagnosed with HIV in 2022 and 1,603 people with HIV died in the year, according to a yearly HIV surveillance report by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Moreover, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene hosted a panel discussion with young people on their experience related to HIV and the importance of World AIDS Day.
New York-based arts organization Visual AIDS and its partners presented five films featuring connections between HIV and other forms of disability and illness on Thursday night. ■
A man reads the names of New Yorkers whose lives were cut short by AIDS at the New York City AIDS Memorial Park in New York City, the United States, on Dec. 1, 2023. Multiple events were held in New York City on Friday to commemorate the annual World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
A candlelight vigil is held to commemorate World AIDS Day in New York City, the United States, on Dec. 1, 2023. Multiple events were held in New York City on Friday to commemorate the annual World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
A candlelight vigil is held to commemorate World AIDS Day in New York City, the United States, on Dec. 1, 2023. Multiple events were held in New York City on Friday to commemorate the annual World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
A candlelight vigil is held to commemorate World AIDS Day in New York City, the United States, on Dec. 1, 2023. Multiple events were held in New York City on Friday to commemorate the annual World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)