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Activists Arrested at Health Insurance Protest Outside Cigna offices
SUNRISE - Two people were arrested early this afternoon when they refused a request to leave during a demonstration outside the Cigna health insurance offices in Sunrise.
Floridians for Health Care staged a sit-in and demonstration at the Cigna Corporate Office in Sunrise. One of the demonstrators Al Rogers (far right) read a letter to an executive from Cigna (he didn't give his name to me) after that Sunrise police told the group to leave the area, two didn't and where arrested. Demonstrators with police in front of the Cigna building. (Lou Toman, Correspondent / October 28, 2009)
The two were part of a group of about 20 demonstrators protesting Cigna
for what they called unfair denial of benefits to sick customers. The
demonstration was part of a nationwide effort organized by the
Mobilization for Health Care for All, an advocacy group calling for a
national, single-payer health care system. Related demonstrations were
held in 18 other cities, including San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York.
The same group recently organized a similar sit-in outside Humana offices in West Palm Beach.
The demonstration at Cigna today was peaceful and cordial, with protesters standing outside the building and several Sunrise police officers keeping them from approaching the lobby.
When John Garcia, who represents the building's management, read a statement asking demonstrators to leave the private property, Sunrise Police Lt. Anthony Rosa warned that he would make arrests. All but two demonstrators went back to their cars.
Arrested were Robert Walz, 59, of Hallandale Beach, and Rogelio Marquina, 72, of Miami-Dade County.
Organizer Al Rogers said the willingness of people across the country to subject themselves to arrest could be a precursor to larger demonstrations in the future if Congress doesn't pass health reform that includes a public option that takes effect within a year.
"America can't wait for this," said Rogers. "It's got to be done now."
Cigna spokesman Chris Curran said the company is in favor of health reform but questioned the value of demonstrations that have targeted Cigna and other health insurance providers.
"Incidents such as these are not constructive and do nothing to further everyone's goal of providing all Americans with access to quality, affordable health care coverage," he said. "We remain committed to collaborating with Congress and all involved to arrive at a long-term solution that will ensure our health care system will benefit all Americans." health insurance offices in Sunrise.
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9 Comments so far
Show AllWe are fighting over an inch, when we need a mile. How did the progressive healthcare cause get divided? Now there are arrests being made on people desiring a public option in a health care insurance bill that mandates everyone getting insurance!! What happened to Single Payer Medicare for All? HR 676, and SB 703 are still on the books, and need to have a debate! Perhaps a Public Option is better than nothing, but I don't think so! So far, of course, a bill hasn't really been submitted, and once both Houses of Congress come up with one, they must be reconciled. However, we need Single Payer, and whatever they sign needs to start immediately; not in 3-5 years.
"Whatever they sign needs to start immediately." I'm hoping whatever they sign doesn't include mandating insurance for all like that which is currently on the table. The co-conspirators in Congress and the "healthcare" industry currently have a bill that will enslave Americans to their monied interests requiring participation, and punishing those already downtrodden. It of course does not include strong legal language to punish greedy insurance companies for atrocities such as arbitrarily raising rates, which is mandatory for any meaningful "reform." The only option for the people is single payer, and they have preemptively fought this notion from before the debates started. Single payer or none at all!
I think I shall have nothing to do with either party or
their corporate sponsors until we have Medicare for All.
Give me Single Payer or give me death. I'm serious.
That's a great slogan. I mean, what other choices do 47 million Americans have?
It takes 14 burly policemen to protect poor little Cigna from 2 guys, 59 and 72 years old?
don't forget the in-house security team as well. i think one of them is out there (white shirt)
i like this quote from Cigna spokesman Chris Curran, "...providing all Americans with access to quality, affordable health care coverage..."
note well that it's not "affordable health care",
it's "affordable health care coverage"
"We remain committed to collaborating with Congress and all involved to arrive at a long-term solution that will ensure our health care system will benefit all Americans." health insurance offices in Sunrise.
Yes, the big corps get to "collaborate" with congress while the people get to collaborate with tazers, tear gas, and arrests. God I love my uniquely American freedom!
This entire health care reform debacle is having an unintended (and so far largely ignored) consequence. It's showing that the concepts of American freedom, liberty, individualism, constitutional rights and the common good are all lies. Money trumps everything.
There is a reason the saying "In God we trust" appears on our currency. Here's a hint: It's not because we are a "Christian" nation.