Sheryl Lee Ralph To Organize Protest at Lincoln Memorial

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, best known for her work in the musical Dreamgirls and the sitcom Moesha, has also been known for years for her commitment to fight HIV/AIDS.

Sheryl Lee Ralph has worked closely with the National Minority AIDS Council and organized numerous fundraisers including her well known annual event, Divas Simply Singing. She has performed her one woman show about HIV/AIDS, Sometimes I Cry, here in DC and around the country.

Ralph will take her activism to new territory on September 27th, however, as she stages a sit-in to call the federal government to take action on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African American community. The National Ledger reports:

Ralph who has traveled to several southern African countries to present HIV/AIDS workshops and presentations, with the support of PEPFAR is distressed by the lack of similar effort to eradicate AIDS in Black American communities.

“I am happy there is PEPFAR but how many times does the CDC have to report that over half of all new HIV infections are occurring among African Americans before we do something about it? HIV/AIDS threatens the very future of Blacks right here in America.“

Ralph hopes she will be joined in D.C. by anyone who is willing to take a stand or a seat and demand change when it comes to the health of all Americans. “The time is now! If we don’t stand up for ourselves who will? AIDS affects us all!”