Audio By Carbonatix
Tomorrow at 11 a.m., health care reform advocates will gather at the West Palm Beach location of Humana, the health care insurance company, demanding that it stop
denying coverage to policyholders with preexisting conditions and
life-threatening illnesses.
It may lead to scenes like the one above, at Cigna’s offices in Chicago.
Spearheading the campaign is Palm Beach Gardens-based
Floridians for Health Care, sponsored by Healthcare-Now! and Mobilization for Health
Care for All.
Floridians’ communications director, Al Rogers, tells me
they’ve assembled only 18 confirmed participants, trained by lawyers for
peaceful protest, ready for weaponless battle and possible arrest.
“Our demonstrators are part of a historic struggle for health justice
in America,” Rogers says. “We are the voice for the 45 million
uninsured and the 50 million underinsured in this country.”
Rogers expects more to join the civil disobedience the day
of, adding that in addition to Palm Beach, eight other cities will
simultaneously host protests, with more than 1,000 demonstrators expected
nationally.
The organizations are calling on two types of peaceful
participants: outraged extremist sit-ins who have nothing to lose (and
who may
possibly be in need of the three hot meals a day and the guaranteed
health care
county lockup has to offer), as well as the less radical crowd, who will
lounge, wave
signs, and avoid a record.
(I don’t know about you, but the harsh lighting in mug shots
isn’t very flattering — I’d go for the lounging.)
Humana has no clue about the possible Chi Town-like,
body-dragging bonanza that may ensue outside its offices. Rogers’
plan of
attack gives the company only two hours’ notice Thursday morning.
Nothing like the
element of surprise!
Calls to Humana for comment were not answered.
If you’d like join the rebels with a cause, here’s the 411.
