October 29, 2009
On Oct. 29, 2009, a protest action in support of Health Care for All was held at a 17-story tower, in Baltimore, MD, which houses the office of the insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield. The demonstrators were advocating for a Single Payer system that puts the patients’ needs before corporate profits. The www.BackboneCampaign.org 's 15 ft. vampire, “Count Bleed-Ya-Dry,” made an appearance at the spirited rally. He represented the grasping Insurance Industry and he was roundly hooted by the protesters. A few of the activists shared their views on why we need a “single payer” health care system to become the law of the land. For more background, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org
In other healthcare news, single-payer advocates continued with a campaign of sit-ins at the offices of major insurance companies Thursday. In Louisville, Kentucky, protesters occupied the entrance to the headquarters of the insurance giant Humana. Meanwhile, four people were arrested at a CareFirst/Blue Cross office in Baltimore. The group Mobilization for Health Care for All says one of the arrested demonstrators, Dr. Margaret Flowers, is refusing to give her name to police and wants to remain in jail until CareFirst executives agree to a public meeting.
By SHARMINA MANANDHAR
Capital News Service
BALTIMORE (Oct. 29, 2009) - Four protesters, including two doctors, were arrested at a "single-payer health care plan" sit-in at the CareFirst insurance company office in Baltimore Thursday.
The protest, part of the "Patients Not Profits" campaign of the Mobilization for Health Care for All, was jointly organized by advocacy groups Prosperity Agenda, Healthcare-NOW! and the Center for the Working Poor.
On Oct. 29, 2009, four activists, who support a Medicare for All solution to our healthcare crisis, were arrested in Baltimore, MD, for trespassing. They were engaged in a “patients before profits sit-in” at a 17-story tower, which houses an office of the regional insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. It’s located in the Canton area of the city. The demonstration was part of an ongoing national campaign by the “Mobilization for Health Care for All” group. The protest included the staging of a 15 ft. vampire, “Count Bleed Ya Dry,” that represented the Insurance Industry. For more more details on the Single Payer issue, the arrests and the exact charges placed against each defendant, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org One of the protesters arrested was Dr. Margaret Flowers. She is a member of the “Baucus Eight,” and an unrepentant advocate of a Single Payer System. See: Bill Hughes' youtube.
Another physician, Dr. Eric Naumburg, was also arrested, along with an 81 year-old retiree, Mr. Charles Loubert, and a school teacher, Ms. Patty Courtney.
Sights and scenes from the protest action of Oct. 29, 2009, in support of Health Care for All. It was held, in Baltimore, MD, at the 17-story tower which houses an office of the insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. For background, see: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org
On Oct. 29, 2009, four activists, who support a Medicare for All solution to our healthcare crisis, were arrested in Baltimore, MD, for trespassing. They were engaged in a “patients before profits sit-in” at a 17-story tower, which houses an office of the insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. In this video, the four: Ms. Patty Courtney, Dr. Margaret Flowers, Dr. Eric Naumburg and Mr. Charles Loubert, explain their decision to choose arrest in order to serve a higher cause--the passage into law of a universal healthcare system that will serve all Americans. For more details on the Single Payer issue, the arrests and the exact charges placed against each defendant, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org
Activist/nurse Sharon Black, who is with the “Bail Out the People Movement,” shared her views on the need for a Single Payer health care system. She said health care is a “human right,” and shouldn’t be for profit and that the country is going through “a desperate period.” Ms. Black added: “The money is there. The war budget is bloated. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.” Ms. Black was one of the protesters who were picketing the office of CareFirst, an insurance giant, at a Hi-Rise in Baltimore, MD, on Oct. 29, 2009. For background, see: http://bailoutpeople.org and http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org
Local health-care practitioners explain why they're willing to go to jail in the name of health-care reform. Read more