Health Care Advocates Arrested at Capitol
by Christine Stuart | June 1, 2007 8:07 PM
Posted to State Capitol
Twenty-two health care advocates were arrested for breach of peace Friday at the state Capitol.
Advocates from the United Auto Workers union and other labor groups attempted to block passage to the House chamber and the governor’s office in an attempt to draw attention to the lack of action on health care legislation.
Capitol Police Chief Michael Fallon said the protestors were very cooperative and depending on their backgrounds many may be released on a promised to appear in Hartford Community Court. He said Hartford Police and State Police were called in to help because of the number of protestors.
Here’s the police press release which includes the names, ages, and towns of all the advocates arrested.
Below is the press release advocates sent out before the protest:
Connecticut spends more than $20 billion dollars on health care annually, health insurance companies are making record profits, their CEO’s are raking in astronomical salaries, and yet 400,000 Connecticut residents live every day without health care. Advocates for universal health care here today, feel strongly that the current system is not one upon which health care reform should be built.
It is shameful that Connecticut, the so called “Insurance Capitol of the World” has 400,000 residents without insurance and yet the insurance industry continues to stand in the way of access to quality health care for all. Their best policy for Connecticut is a strong insurance industry. Our best policy for Connecticut is health care for everyone.
We believe that increasing the role of government in the interest of the public good is far more cost efficient and effective allowing everyone in the state access to quality and affordable health care.
With 5 days left in the longest session in the past 100 years, the groups here today are appalled that we have yet to see a comprehensive universal health care reform proposal despite many promises made by top leaders to the contrary.
It is not acceptable to end this legislative session without passing legislation that guarantees every state resident access to affordable and quality health care. We are here today in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ghandi and others before us who have acted out of conscience rather than political motivation. We are seeking a commitment from the state’s top leaders to pass legislation this year that includes the 5 Institute of Medicine Principles for universal health care:
AFFORDABLE TO EVERYONE
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
SUSTAINABLE TO THE ECONOMY
PORTABLE ACROSS EMPLOYMENT
HEALTH ENHANCING
In the words on Congressman and former civil rights leader and activist Congressman John Lewis, “We must insist that the government form policies, legislation, programs - what ever is needed - to nurture the environment in which we can narrow that gap (between those in power and those who are disenfranchised) instead of allowing it to continue to grow. We must develop a just and sensible way of redistributing our resources so that no one, but no one, will be left out of society.”
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