U2 France

OAKLAND — Rock legend Bono — who has lent his musical clout to the international battle against AIDS and worldwide poverty — came to the Bay Area Friday, joining forces with Congresswoman Barbara Lee and local leaders to begin mapping out a strategy to help halt a new rise of the disease within the minority community.

Bono — who was on the West Coast to receive an award for his international work at the NAACP Image Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Friday night — said the war against AIDS and its spread was far from over.

"We’re at the epicenter here in East Oakland of a new rise in the AIDS epidemic in the United States," the U2 rock star said. "I would also say we are at the epicenter of the resistance to that epidemic."

Bono huddled with Lee, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, faith-based community leaders and AIDS suffers and activists for a two-hour conference at East Oakland’s Allen Temple Baptist Church discussing an educational program on AIDS prevention within the local community.

"It’s a disease that affects us all, but disproportionately, of course, affects African-American and communities of color," Lee said.

The meeting targeted the silence about spread of AIDS within the African American community.

Bono said "the conversation continues" and he would seek the help of high profile athletes and musicians to help spread the word.

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