In early December 1987, ACT UP New York organized some of its first large street actions to protest government inaction and high drug prices related to the AIDS crisis, including demonstrations around World AIDS Day. Activists demanded faster drug approvals, affordable treatments, and honest public information. Their early protests drew media attention to federal agencies and pharmaceutical companies. These actions helped frame AIDS as both a health and a political issue. The group’s tactics, including civil disobedience and graphic messaging, influenced later health advocacy movements. While ACT UP actions spanned multiple dates, their early December mobilizations became closely tied to annual AIDS awareness events.
