WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 1,000 people marched through downtown Washington on Sunday to call attention to the ongoing struggle against HIV and AIDS, the subject of an international conference beginning held in the nation’s capital.

Organizers said the aim of the “Keep the Promise” march was to remind world leaders and policymakers that AIDS remains a threat to global health. Marchers used red umbrellas to create a human red ribbon in advance of the march. Some carried balloons in the shape of globes as they marched, and others carried signs that read “Test & Treat Now” and “Yes We Can Control AIDS.” The marchers stretched for more than a block, with bands and cheerleaders among the group.

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