Sixteen citizens were arrested in the action, which was the first to expressly link the two issues. In addition to doctors, medical students, and other health care professionals, participants included small business owners, students, a former congressional staffer, senior citizens, and community organizers. The fact that this is not a campaign issue in the 2000 elections is an indictment of our political system. The pointed to the fact that over 42 million Americans are uninsured and millions more are at risk, even though 75 percent of the public favors a system of universal coverage. After several hours of booking, they were released on their own recognizance and ordered to appear for arraignment in D.C. Superior Court on November 9th.
People are angry and they re willing to put their bodies on the line.
They re taking democracy back, and they ll keep coming back until real reform becomes law. Because they are not big campaign contributors, and those who profit from the system are. The Alliance for Democracy is a grassroots organization consisting of 60 chapters in 21 states.