#BlackLivesMatter has become both a rallying cry and a point of division as America tries to grapple with race and its legacy of prejudice and discrimination.  This plenary looked at how Black lives matter in the fight to end the HIV epidemic in America.  The numbers don’t lie; the disproportionate impact that HIV has on African Americans cannot be denied.  In a movement committed to social justice, why are the results so disproportionately impacting communities of color?  The opening plenary of 2015 USCA opened with an important discussion on the future of this movement. Speakers included: Congresswoman Maxine Waters; Valerie Rochester, Director of Programs at Black Women’s Health Imperative; HIV Advocate Martez Smith; transgender advocate Valerie Spencer; and civil rights advocate DeRay Mckesson.

“We have to level the playing field because #HIVLivesMatter“: @MaxineWaters speaks to a full house at #2015USCA pic.twitter.com/FcSMEQbOiJ

— AIDS.gov (@AIDSgov) September 10, 2015

“The numbers don’t lie, but they don’t tell how Black women are devalued.” – Valerie Rochester #SayHerName #2015usca pic.twitter.com/a6KAm2zhMF

— britni danielle (@BritniDWrites) September 10, 2015

Yessssss @msmith514 slaying the opening plenary! #2015USCA pic.twitter.com/54MgIKLoyY

— Benjamin Di’Costa (@BenjaminDiCosta) September 10, 2015

 

#ValerieSpencer is giving #2015USCA so much life with her speech on #transgender #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/OVB6WskyQv

— Capacity for Health (@c4htips) September 10, 2015

.@deray is just as much an inspiration on @CNNSitRoom as he is at #2015USCA pic.twitter.com/Her85q7DTl

— Capacity for Health (@c4htips) September 10, 2015