More than a thousand angry activists circled the Capitol Building on Wednesday evening to protest the US Healthcare Act. The protest was part of the three-day 'People's Filibusters' program organized by over 19 groups, including Planned Parenthood, American Federation of Labor and the ACLU.
The Planned Parenthood Federal Campaign Director, Graeme Joeck said a lot of lawyers turned up for the march. He said the aim of the rally was to send a message to the government that they were not in support of the bill.
Signi Espinoza, 24, a resident of Philadelphia shared some of her experiences with the health care to commemorate the post-march rally.
She said she has been enjoying the Medicaid services for a long time. Adding that if the bill was to go through, it will affect so many people like her.
People recount their personal experiences
Many of the activists carried handbills with “I’ll lose my health” inscriptions on them. The handbills were designed by the Center for American Progress, as a part of the rally that motivates fellow citizens to share their experiences about Medicaid and how it has affected them personally.
The campaign director of The CAP Action Fund, Emily Tisch Sussman said, the group predicted that the healthcare would be a major concern for the country, that’s why they started working on the protest right after the elections.
He said that Americans had to see themselves as victims because they would eventually become one in the future if they didn't arrest the situation in time.
48 Reps. members join protesters
Forty-eight members of the House of Representatives were also at the venue of the protest. Eric Harris, the communications director of Rep.
Gwen Moore, said that more than 22 million citizens will lose their health care if Obamacare is being abolished. He also stated that a lot more will be affected by the structural changes in the Medicaid.
These legislators and their Senate colleagues soon crossed the eastern lawn to express their support, including Sens. Patty Murray, Nancy Pelosi, Brian Shatz, Ron Wyden, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Chuck Sumer.
Other senators joined the protesters as they exchanged ideas on the future of the ACHA. After leaving the scene, Booker explained the challenges associated with the legislature. He said there are a lot of rich folks who do not want the Obamacare to continue.
Some Republicans and Democrats have not been involved in the bill’s negotiations so far. However, following Mitch McConnell’s decision to stall the vote, Schatz said he anticipated better bilateral co-operation going forward.
