Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, rallied outside Hahnemann hospital in Philadelphia on July 15, 2019. (Photo: @ryanobles/Twitter)
Jul 15, 2019
As private equity vultures move toward closing Hahnemann University Hospital, which serves as a lifeline for tens of thousands of poor Philadelphians, Sen. Bernie Sanders joined a rally outside the facility on Monday and condemned the effort to shutter the hospital as corporate greed at its worst.
"How many people will in fact die if this hospital is shut down? We say human life is more important than corporate profits."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
"This is not a question of economics. This is a question of basic human morality," Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, told a crowd of approximately 1,500 hospital workers and activists amid reports that Hahnemann could close as early as next month.
To prevent private equity tycoons from buying up and closing struggling hospitals like Hahnemann around the nation, Sanders announced during the rally that he plans to introduce legislation in the Senate to create a $20 billion fund that would allow states and local communities to purchase "hospitals that are in financial distress."
Helen Gym, a Philadelphia city councilwoman, tweeted Monday that there are "48 other hospitals in Pennsylvania in worse shape than Hahnemann right now."
"If Hahnemann falls, the rest will follow," said Gym. "We won't let that happen."
After his remarks, Sanders told CNN's Ryan Nobles that Medicare for All would prevent situations like the Hahnemann closure because it "would not be based on a system of profiteering."
\u201c.@BernieSanders told me a Medicare 4 All system would prevent hospital closures like this one, because it \u201cwould not be based on a system of profiteering.\u201d Several Dem candidates - specifically @JoeBiden- have plans that rely still on for-profit insurance & private hospitals.\u201d— Ryan Nobles (@Ryan Nobles) 1563204415
Sanders, the only presidential candidate to join the demonstration at Hahnemann, said the planned closure of the facility is "not just a Philadelphia issue, it is not a Vermont issue, it is a national issue."
"How many people will in fact die if this hospital is shut down?" Sanders asked. "We say human life is more important than corporate profits."
"We should not be talking about shutting down a major hospital and converting that property into hotels or condos," added Sanders. "This is not a complicated issue. It is a question of getting our priorities right."
Watch Sanders's remarks:
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
As private equity vultures move toward closing Hahnemann University Hospital, which serves as a lifeline for tens of thousands of poor Philadelphians, Sen. Bernie Sanders joined a rally outside the facility on Monday and condemned the effort to shutter the hospital as corporate greed at its worst.
"How many people will in fact die if this hospital is shut down? We say human life is more important than corporate profits."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
"This is not a question of economics. This is a question of basic human morality," Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, told a crowd of approximately 1,500 hospital workers and activists amid reports that Hahnemann could close as early as next month.
To prevent private equity tycoons from buying up and closing struggling hospitals like Hahnemann around the nation, Sanders announced during the rally that he plans to introduce legislation in the Senate to create a $20 billion fund that would allow states and local communities to purchase "hospitals that are in financial distress."
Helen Gym, a Philadelphia city councilwoman, tweeted Monday that there are "48 other hospitals in Pennsylvania in worse shape than Hahnemann right now."
"If Hahnemann falls, the rest will follow," said Gym. "We won't let that happen."
After his remarks, Sanders told CNN's Ryan Nobles that Medicare for All would prevent situations like the Hahnemann closure because it "would not be based on a system of profiteering."
\u201c.@BernieSanders told me a Medicare 4 All system would prevent hospital closures like this one, because it \u201cwould not be based on a system of profiteering.\u201d Several Dem candidates - specifically @JoeBiden- have plans that rely still on for-profit insurance & private hospitals.\u201d— Ryan Nobles (@Ryan Nobles) 1563204415
Sanders, the only presidential candidate to join the demonstration at Hahnemann, said the planned closure of the facility is "not just a Philadelphia issue, it is not a Vermont issue, it is a national issue."
"How many people will in fact die if this hospital is shut down?" Sanders asked. "We say human life is more important than corporate profits."
"We should not be talking about shutting down a major hospital and converting that property into hotels or condos," added Sanders. "This is not a complicated issue. It is a question of getting our priorities right."
Watch Sanders's remarks:
As private equity vultures move toward closing Hahnemann University Hospital, which serves as a lifeline for tens of thousands of poor Philadelphians, Sen. Bernie Sanders joined a rally outside the facility on Monday and condemned the effort to shutter the hospital as corporate greed at its worst.
"How many people will in fact die if this hospital is shut down? We say human life is more important than corporate profits."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
"This is not a question of economics. This is a question of basic human morality," Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, told a crowd of approximately 1,500 hospital workers and activists amid reports that Hahnemann could close as early as next month.
To prevent private equity tycoons from buying up and closing struggling hospitals like Hahnemann around the nation, Sanders announced during the rally that he plans to introduce legislation in the Senate to create a $20 billion fund that would allow states and local communities to purchase "hospitals that are in financial distress."
Helen Gym, a Philadelphia city councilwoman, tweeted Monday that there are "48 other hospitals in Pennsylvania in worse shape than Hahnemann right now."
"If Hahnemann falls, the rest will follow," said Gym. "We won't let that happen."
After his remarks, Sanders told CNN's Ryan Nobles that Medicare for All would prevent situations like the Hahnemann closure because it "would not be based on a system of profiteering."
\u201c.@BernieSanders told me a Medicare 4 All system would prevent hospital closures like this one, because it \u201cwould not be based on a system of profiteering.\u201d Several Dem candidates - specifically @JoeBiden- have plans that rely still on for-profit insurance & private hospitals.\u201d— Ryan Nobles (@Ryan Nobles) 1563204415
Sanders, the only presidential candidate to join the demonstration at Hahnemann, said the planned closure of the facility is "not just a Philadelphia issue, it is not a Vermont issue, it is a national issue."
"How many people will in fact die if this hospital is shut down?" Sanders asked. "We say human life is more important than corporate profits."
"We should not be talking about shutting down a major hospital and converting that property into hotels or condos," added Sanders. "This is not a complicated issue. It is a question of getting our priorities right."
Watch Sanders's remarks:
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.