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Protesters Risk Arrest for Medicare for All

October 17, 2009

The Mobilization for Health Care for All launched its national campaign of "Patients Not Profit" sit-ins at insurance company offices in New York City to demand an end to a system that profits by denying people care. The September 29 protest’s message was clear: Americans want the real "public option"—Medicare for All, a single-payer plan that puts patients first and cuts out the profit. Seventeen people were arrested in health insurer Aetna’s lobby for refusing to leave until the company approved all life-saving treatments for people on their files.

The campaign moved on to Chicago on October 8 with seven arrests at Cigna, and to nine cities across the country on October 15. The Mobilization for Health Care for All plans to organize future actions in as many cities as possible to win health care reform that ensures no barriers between Americans and health care, removing profit from the health care equation.  

At least 54 people were arrested in sit-ins on October 15. In New York City, 50 legal protesters supported the 14 sit-in participants. The Mobilization for Health Care for All hopes that October 28’s actions will be held in at least 15 cities with well over 100 people risking arrest. News coverage from around the country reported October 15’s protests in print, on television, and on the web:

Dozens Arrested at Sit-In Protests at Health Insurance Companies, Democracy Now.

Boston, MA
Protest leads to arrest of 11, Daily News Tribune.

11 charged with trespassing at health care protest in Newton, Boston Globe.

New York, NY
14 charged in NYC protest at health insurer office, Associated Press.

Palm Beach, FL
Sit-in protest at Humana's office, Palm Beach Post.

Washington, DC
Group Pickets Health Care Provider in 9-city Protest, News Channel 8. 

Portland, OR
Protesters Arrested At Health Care Reform Sit-In, Fox 12 Oregon. 

Los Angeles, CA
Police arrest health care demonstrators, Rex Features. 

Progressive Democrats of America is a Mobilization for Health Care for All partner.