In 1987, New York City was flooded by “SILENCE=DEATH” slogans, criticizing the government’s apathy towards the AIDS crisis. The group behind this was ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, an advocacy group working towards the prevention and awareness of the disease.
The pink triangle in the slogan references the inverted triangle symbol that the Nazis used to label homosexuals in internment camps. During in the 70’s in America, the use and meaning of the triangle became a symbol of freedom and pride to the LGBTQ community.