YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative and community leaders left for Washington D.C. today to join thousands in the fight for Health Care.

The group composed of MVOC organizers, community leaders and Take Action Minnesota, left MVOC’s office to join thousands in protest against the health insurance industry in Washington D.C. Over the course of the two-day trip, the group plans to protest America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) – a health insurance lobbying group – as well as deliver a letter to Congressman John Boccieri (OH-16) from several prominent members of the Catholic community. 

AHIP will hold its annual policy conference on March 9 and 10 during which healthcare reform supporters from across the country will come together to make a mass citizens’ arrest of the health insurance executives. The arrests come as a result, protesters say, of the executives denying care, hiking up premiums, and contributing to the deaths of 45,000 people each year.  

“It’s time to put the enemies on notice,” said Hattie Wilkins, one of the leaders making the trek to Washington.  “We will not allow the big corporations and their lobbyists to bully Congress to a standstill. This means confronting the health insurance industry that has secretly spent tens of millions to protect its profits by trying to kill reform.”

Corrine Williams, Warren, will be one of thousands armed with arrest warrants, badges, crime tape, “wanted” posters, and more. The crowd will be deputized as officers to carry out the arrests of the Big Insurance CEOS and AHIP leaders.

Another community leader, Della Hughey of Youngstown, expressed her thoughts on the insurance companies’ negligence as well as their plight to hinder reform through cronyism in Congress.

“There are two sides in this fight, and it is time for members of Congress to pick one,” said Hughey.  “They can stand with us and support real change, or they side with the insurance industry. We’ve had enough, and we’re heading to D.C. to say so.” 

The group plans to return to Youngstown on Tuesday, March 9.
  
Read more about the trip to D.C. at WFMJ.com or WKBN.com.

In October 2009, Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, various community leaders and officials gathered to give a unified voice in support of needed Health Care Reform.  These individuals gave stirring testimonials regarding their own experiences with the insurance and health care industries, underscoring the need for notice and for action.