Two people became infected with HIV during the amount of time that Teresa Mercado livestreamed on Facebook.
Mercado, 51, an Alachua County resident, was one of four people marching down the streets of Duval Heights for World AIDS Day. As cars whizzed past her, Mercado proclaimed to those watching her livestream that nobody is immune to the disease. Every 9.5 minutes someone in the U.S. becomes infected with HIV, according to the National Hispanic Council on Aging.
“Today’s walk may not have many numbers, but we know we still have a voice,” Mercado said during the livestream.
Starting at Dayspring Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1945 NE Eighth Ave., activists walked two blocks Saturday morning. The march was sponsored by the nonprofit Black AIDS Services and Education.
Mercado said the rain kept people from coming to the event.
As the group walked, the president of the nonprofit, Joe Reads, handed out free condoms to people on the streets.
Mercado, the outreach coordinator of the nonprofit, said she began her involvement with the HIV/AIDS community in the 1980s when her uncle Felix died due to complications from the disease.
She said she tries to engage the community through various events to reach everyone. Mercado said she has even trained barbers and beauticians on how to talk to their clients about AIDS and sexual health.
“Everybody has their role in getting the message out about this issue,” Mercado said.
Alexandria Walker, who is Mrs. Marion County Plus America 2019, was one of the participants who marched.
Walker, a 23-year-old College of Central Florida criminal justice senior, said she came to the march because she knows many people who are unaware of their sexual health status. In high school, Walker said HIV was known colloquially as “die slow.”
“Knowing is power,” Walker said. “When one person is infected, it affects the entire community.”
Contact Hannah Beatty at hbeatty@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @hannahbeatty_
