Cleve Jones

Harvey Milk, the AIDS Quilt, and Human Rights
Monday, February 8, 2009

Cleve Jones, founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, began his career as an activist in San Francisco during the turbulent 1970s, when pioneer gay rights leader Harvey Milk befriended him. Following Milk's election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Jones worked as a student intern in Milk's office while studying political science at San Francisco State University. Harvey Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in November 1978, and Jones dropped out of school to work in Sacramento as a legislative consultant.

The story of Harvey Milk was recently brought to life in filn and Jones worked as the historical consultant. The film, nominated for eight Academy Awards, featured Sean Penn as Milk and Emile Hirsch, star of Sean Penn's film "Into the Wild" as Cleve Jones. Josh Brolin acted as Dan White, Milk's murderer.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt (Jones created the first panel in 1987) has become the world’s largest community arts project and independent affiliates of the NAMES Project are currently operating in 50 countries around the world.  Jones continues his political activism as an organizer for UNITE HERE, the international union representing textile, hotel, casino and restaurant workers, fighting for access to health care, safe working conditions and human rights.