From Pontoon Boats to Town Halls, Americans Are Sitting In and Calling Up to Stop Trumpcare
Protesters all over the country have descended on their Republican senators’ offices during the Congressional recess to demand that they vote no on Trumpcare. Parents, veterans, socialists, disability rights activists, and dozens of other concerned groups staged sit-ins, protests, and pontoon flotillas to get the attention of their senators – many of whom were too cowardly to hold town halls.
Below I’ve included some footage from the protests in Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio – but these are just some of the stories.
Arizona
Disability rights protesters took over Senator Jeff Flake’s (literally, his name) offices in Phoenix, Arizona on June 5.
Protesters at @JeffFlake‘s office: If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. #ADAPTandRESIST #NoBCRA #SaveMedicaid #NoCapsNoCuts pic.twitter.com/vsWIclqWG3
— ABILITY360 (@ability360) July 5, 2017
ADAPT’s AZ chapter has organized an ongoing health-care protest at Sen. @JeffFlake‘s Phoenix office. Activists say Flake is ignoring them. pic.twitter.com/hmTv1HxgEu
— Dan Nowicki (@dannowicki) July 5, 2017
Kentucky
Mitch McConnell, in typical turtle fashion, locked his constituents out and refused to meet with them. But they kept protesting.
Locked out by McConnell in Lexington, but still calling for him to stop the travesty that is Trumpcare. #SitInSaveLives pic.twitter.com/vAUWtWrFGn
— Our Revolution CKY (@OurRevCentralKY) July 6, 2017
The Indivisible group from Kentucky and the Indivisible group from southern Indiana also protested together at Big Four Bridge to jointly call on their senators to vote no.
“This is what democracy looks like” pic.twitter.com/m5jrbSqHXR
— Darcy Costello (@dctello) July 7, 2017
Louisiana
Three protesters were arrested outside of Senator Bill Cassidy’s office in Metairie. Protester Haley Saucier explained how the Medicaid cuts from this bill would, quite literally, condemn her to death or certain bankruptcy.
Haley Saucier explains why she is protesting and risking arrest by sitting in at Senator Cassidy’s office #SitInSaveLives #StopTrumpCare pic.twitter.com/Wujk8sfm04
— Emley Kerry (@emleykerry) July 6, 2017
Nebraska
Protesters held a sit-in in at Senator Ben Sasse’s Lincoln, Nebraska office.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, Senator Thom Tillis refused to hold a town hall, and instead spent the week on Lake Norman. So North Carolinians, in true Southern fashion, pulled out their pontoon boats and joined him.
“If Thom Tillis could really defend #Trumpcare, he’d hold town hall meetings and look his constituents in the eye” #ncpol #ncsen pic.twitter.com/nA8XvtwmyY
— Progress NC Action (@ProgressNow_NC) July 7, 2017
Ohio
ADAPT Disability rights activists and the Democratic Socialists of American took over Senator Rob Portman’s office on July 6 and 7. As in so many states, the protesters were eventually arrested for trespassing. Portman said, “We aren’t going to allow a handful of Socialists, many of whom are from New York to disrupt our ability to serve the needs of the Ohio constituents who contact us in need of vital services every day.” Charming.
ADAPT is here occupying the downstairs to Portman’s office. We need your presence, in person or online. #SitInSaveLives #waitingforportman pic.twitter.com/IqE4hRwajF
— Yes We Can Columbus (@YesWeCanCbus) July 7, 2017
People with disabilities are currently taking over Senator Portman’s office building over health care bill. pic.twitter.com/qlL3tpurE6
— Elizabeth Plank (@feministabulous) July 7, 2017
Pennsylvania
Senator Pat Toomey’s constituents were blocked from his closed, “invite-only,” TV town hall on July 5. As in many other states, disability rights activists were eventually arrested for “trespassing.”
Toomey’s wheelchair-bound constituents stopped by police as he holds closed town hall on TV. @SenToomey @abc27 pic.twitter.com/V3NzxaketG
— Lori Buck (@lorinbuck) July 5, 2017
Protesters outside of the ABC 27 building while Sen. Toomey takes part in a TV town hall. @PennLive pic.twitter.com/zHDDJ5g453
— James Robinson (@jrobinsonphoto) July 5, 2017
It’s no secret that Mitch McConnell and oh-so-personable Ted Cruz are still conniving to pass this monstrosity, but thanks to efforts like these, support has reportedly waned during the recess.
Keep calling and keep fighting ’til it’s dead, you heroes. This is what democracy looks like.
(Via Twitter; image via Shutterstock)
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