When LarryKramer founded ACT UP and accused Koch of killing most of his friends, the mayor wanted to meet with him, but he was dissuaded by his staff from doing so.
"Picture this, that you lived in a community in which your friends slowly started to die all around you and you couldn't get anyone in any position of authority...to pay attention, " said LarryKramer, a playwright who became one of the foremost anti-AIDS activists.