Description:
Marcus Jones reports that a group of Mission Hill residents led by Graylan Ellis-Hagler (Church of the United Community) and Hattie Dudley (Mission Hill resident) have been picketing the offices of the AIDS Brigade to protest the AIDS Brigade's clean needle-exchange program. Jones' report includes footage of Ellis-Hagler and Dudley with the picketers. Jones interviews Ellis-Hagler and Dudley. Ellis-Hagler says that the needle-exchange program would not be tolerated in any other neighborhood in Boston. Dudley says that the program will lead to an increase in drug traffic in the Mission Hill neighborhood. Dudley and Ellis-Hagler both advocate treatment programs over needle-exchange programs. Jones notes that recovering drug addicts have daily meetings at Ellis-Hagler's Church of the United Community. Jones' report includes footage of people gathered at the Church of the United Community. A woman makes protest signs at the church. Jones interviews Anthony Brown (former drug addict) about the need for more treatment programs. This tape contains additional footage of the Mission Hill protesters.
0:59:17: Visual: Footage of protesters in front of the offices of the AIDS Brigade on Parker Street in Mission Hill. The protesters carry signs reading, "If we had treatment, we wouldn't need needles," "No more needles" and "Services for 7,966 substance abusers have already been cut in 1990." The protesters chant, "No more needles." Shots of the feet of the protesters. Shots of Jon Parker (leader, AIDS Brigade) and another AIDS Brigade volunteer leaning out of the window of the building. Parker and the volunteer hold signs supporting needle exchange. Marcus Jones reports that a small group of protesters gather outside of the offices of the AIDS Brigade every afternoon at 2:00; that the protesters are opposed to the AIDS Brigade's clean-needle exchange program. Jones notes that the Reverend Graylan Ellis-Hagler (Church of the United Community) and Hattie Dudley (Mission Hill resident) are leading the picketing. V: Shots of Ellis-Hagler arriving at the protest. Ellis-Hagler greets Dudley with a hug. Ellis-Hagler and Dudley join the protesters marching in a circle outside of the AIDS brigade offices. Shots of the protesters; of Hagler; of Dudley. Footage of Ellis-Hagler being interviewed outside. Ellis-Hagler says that the community will not tolerate a group of outsiders coming in to tell people what they need and how they need it. Ellis-Hagler says that the activities of the AIDS Brigade would not be tolerated in any other neighborhood in Boston. Jones reports that Ellis-Hagler's church has been a daily meeting place for recovering drug addicts for six years. V: Shots of a group of people sitting in a room at the Church of the United Community. Anthony Brown (former drug addict) greets another man and another woman with hugs. Shots of groups of people in the room at the church. Shots of a woman making anti-needle protest signs with a magic marker. One of the signs reads, "Down with the AIDS Brigade." Jones reports that Brown has been off drugs for three years; that he volunteered to join Hagler and others on the picket line today. V: Footage of Brown being interviewed on the street. Brown says that drug addicts need treatment instead of needles. Footage of Dudley walking with Jones. The two exit a building in Mission Hill. Jones asks Dudley how the community has changed over the years. Dudley says that a positive change has been the increased involvement of residents in the community. Dudley says that a negative change is the increase in crime and drugs. Jones reports that Dudley has lived in Mission Hill for eighteen years; that she has raised seven children. Jones reports that Dudley admits that her opposition to the AIDS Brigade is partly a "turf struggle." V: Shots of protesters outside of the AIDS Brigade offices. Two police officers stand on the corner of the street. Footage of Dudley being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks why Dudley opposes the clean needle program. Dudley says that the clean needle program creates an increase in the demand for drugs. Dudley says that every addict in the neighborhood will go to the AIDS Brigade for needles; that drug dealers will be attracted to the neighborhood. Jones asks if there is a serious drug problem in the neighborhood. Dudley says that there is a drug problem in the neighborhood; that the needle exchange program will make it worse. Footage of Ellis-Hagler being interviewed on the street. Ellis-Hagler says that the AIDS epidemic will be brought under control by reducing the demand for drugs. Hagler says that the numbers of needles on the street must be decreased. Footage of Dudley being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks what the alternative is to clean needle programs. Dudley says that the alternative is quitting. Dudley says that people need to quit; that people cannot become dependent on clean needles from the AIDS Brigade. Dudley says that she is going to fight to drive the AIDS Brigade out of the neighborhood. Shot of the exterior of the AIDS Brigade offices. A sign in the window of the offices reads, "No needles equals more AIDS." Shots of protesters marching in front of the AIDS Brigade offices. Footage of Dudley being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks if the protests are the best way to drive out the AIDS Brigade. Dudley says that the protesters are trying to remind the city that needle distribution is illegal. Dudley says that the Boston Police Department did its job during the Carol Stuart murder case; that the Police Department should come back to Mission Hill to perform its job now. Dudley says that the voice of the community should be heeded.
Date Created:
01/30/1991
