As the country prepares for a pivotal election season, a massive, nonpartisan movement is brewing to place public health at the very top of the political agenda. Running from June 1 to June 7, the “Seven Days in June: Health is Primary” campaign is a decentralized, nationwide week of action. Its core mission? To sound the alarm on impending federal budget cuts—exceeding $1 trillion—slated for Medicaid, the CDC, and the NIH, and to demand that candidates from all political parties protect affordable healthcare.
Because June hosts the highest number of state primary elections, organizers chose this window to force politicians to answer a critical question: How will you protect the health and financial stability of your constituents? Throughout the week, communities across the U.S. will host town halls, rallies, interfaith services, and marches. A major focal point will occur at sunset on Friday, June 5, when simultaneous nationwide candlelight vigils will honor those lost to healthcare inequities and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. June 5 holds immense historical weight: it marks the 45th anniversary of the CDC’s first official report on the disease in 1981, which is also recognized globally as HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day.
The Visionaries Behind the Movement: Cleve Jones and Sean Strub
The spark for Seven Days in June ignited when two of the most legendary figures in LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activism realized that the hard-fought gains of the last 45 years were under immediate threat by impending safety-net cuts.
Cleve Jones
Cleve Jones is a world-renowned human rights activist, author, and lecturer whose career began in the 1970s under the mentorship of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk. In 1987, Jones conceived and co-founded the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, which has grown into a 54-ton, 50,000-panel monument honoring more than 110,000 lives lost to the epidemic. For the past two decades, Jones has fought on the front lines of labor activism with UNITE HERE, advocating for service industry workers, immigrants, and women of color. Seeing healthcare dismantled as a mere “budget line,” Jones reached out to his longtime ally to organize a response.
Sean Strub
Sean Strub is an icon of the early AIDS activist movement and a pioneer in healthcare journalism. An early member of ACT UP New York, Strub went on to produce the groundbreaking off-Broadway play The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me. In 1994, he founded POZ Magazine, the premier publication for people impacted by HIV/AIDS, providing a vital lifeline of information and community. Today, Strub serves as the executive director of the Sero Project, network focused on ending HIV criminalization.
Together, Jones and Strub utilized their decades of grassroots organizing expertise to mobilize a massive coalition. They have successfully united major labor unions (like the SEIU and AFT), public health organizations (including the American Public Health Association), and civil rights groups under a single banner: Health cuts kill, and healthcare is a human right.
Bringing the Movement to Delaware
Currently, there are no official “Seven Days in June” events scheduled within the state of Delaware. However, because this is a decentralized, grassroots-driven campaign, anyone can step up to lead the charge. If you are passionate about defending public health infrastructure, protecting veterans and seniors, or honoring healthcare heroes, you can easily bring this movement to the First State. Organizers emphasize that no effort is too small—whether it’s a small gathering of neighbors or a large-scale demonstration.
How to Get Involved and Plan a Delaware Event:
- Visit the Official Hub: Head over to Seven Days in June to read the official campaign toolkit, download fact sheets, and endorse the cause.
- Host a Friday Night Vigil: Organize a candlelight vigil in your local town square, park, or place of worship at sunset on Friday, June 5, to align with the national moment of unity.
- Bring the Quilt to Delaware: The National AIDS Memorial is offering resources and special accommodations to communities wishing to host an in-person display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt during the week of action.
- Register Your Event: Once you have a date, time, and location (whether it’s a town hall, a peaceful rally, or an educational Zoom call), use the “Add An Event” portal on the official website so other Delawareans can find and support your action.
By demanding that health be treated as a core governing responsibility, Delaware residents have a unique opportunity to hold future policymakers accountable before they step into office.