The fight for health justice continues!
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by Bruce Allison/PNN "Single payer now! Insurance companies no!" "Hey, hey¦ ho, ho¦ healthcare greed has got to go!" The voices of over 3,000 community members boomed into the sticky, humid air over San Francisco's Moscone Center last Thursday. The large crowd gathered to urge government support on House Resolution 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act, which would give universal healthcare free of charge to all Californians. The plan, if passed, would cover all community members with only a 1% tax on the working population. I stood in the crowd, feeling dizzy from the heat, and listened as community members shared their own experiences of living without healthcare in the United States. Currently, 6.5 million residents in California don't have insurance. Supervisor Tom Ammiano spoke in support of the resolution and a jazz band performed while the crowd danced. The Ragin' Grannies sang and performed while the crowd clapped and cheered. In 21 cities across the country, similar rallies took place, as community members came together to fight for universal healthcare. Hundreds of community-based organizations support the resolution in California, including the California Alliance for Retired Americans, the United Educators of San Francisco, the California Nurses Association and more. The day's rally ended with a memorial procession exemplifying how the insurance companies are killing us. The large crowd continued chanted and clapping in hopes of healthcare for all. Call your state assembly member and senator and demand that they vote yes on SB 840. |