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LAS VEGAS --The Reverend Al Sharpton made a stop in Las Vegas Friday night. He came to town hoping to shine a light on the AIDS epidemic in the minority community.

Rev. Sharpton's main goal at the town hall that was held at the Cashman Center, 850 N. Las Vegas Boulevard, was to get the public talking about how the disease disproportionately impacts Americans, especially African and Latin Americans.

Currently, African Americans account for 44% of all AIDS patients in the United States; Latinos account for 21%, but, both groups represent a much lower percentage of the overall U.S. population.

One AIDS patient put a face on the disease when he spoke about his own battle.

"The initial struggle was more mental and coping with the whole life change of living with a chronic disease, which is manageable, However, it doesn't take away the sting and the mental and emotional impact, said Demarkest Brooks, AIDS patient.

The town hall Friday was part of a nationwide campaign to address AIDS as a civil rights issue. Organizers and Sharpton said they wanted this event to inspire cities like Las Vegas to open more clinics so that people will have better access to HIV testing.

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AIDS town hall hosted by The Rev. Al Sharpton