I'm actually choking up as I write this.
Some of you know that last Thursday, June 19th was a nationwide day of action against the for-profit health insurance industry.
I was in San Francisco where AHIP was holding its annual convention.
I marched with the heroes from the California Nurses Association. CNA took the lead in organizing the protests nationwide.
The protests began on Wednesday, June 18th outside the Moscone center. We had a press conference with Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, Hilda Sarkisyan (who, I'm thrilled to let you know will be at Netroots Nation as a panelist on the health policy panel--I'll tell you more about that in another diary), Rick Colombo, the father of Nick Colombo and many others.
Take a look at Delgadillo's web page. Here you'll see a politician actually doing the business of the people. Look at the big red letters: Investigation Regarding Denial of Health Insurance Claims or Coverage. I spoke to Delgadillo, he's committed to ridding the planet of this parasitic industry.
I barely slept Wednesday night--just too damn juiced-up and ready to go. I got up before 5AM to post a diary. CNA didn't miss or forget one detail. Now, I fully appreciate the emails I've received about CNA which generally end with a version of, "don't fuck with CNA", or, "you better worry if you don't have CNA on your side, just ask Arnold". This is one incredible, brilliant, committed and competent bunch of activists.
CNA made me a banner which said, DAILY KOS, so I was able to find some Kossacks. I met eugene, Dbunn, blogswarm, pris from L.A.--there were other Kossacks there, karmsy was someone I sadly didn't meet.
June 19th,2008, a day that will change America:
The day began with a signing ceremony in the office of Mayor Gavin Newsom officially making San Francisco a city supporting passage of HR 676. I finally met Rose Ann DeMoro, the executive director of the California Nurses Association.
I'd like to digress for a moment. I was inside San Francisco City Hall at a historic moment, a time when people are legally marrying irrespective of gender.
As we wended our way through this magnificent building to the Mayor's office, you could not help but be struck by how incredibly citizen-friendly Mayor Newsom has made the process.
The minute you pass through the very courteous (yes, even the security guards are polite), security checkpoint, you see desks everywhere staffed by people eager to explain and expedite the marriage application process. There were no lines, only smiling face--people helping people. Amazing!
My reaction was shock. Here is a government actually working for the people.
Thank you Mayor Newsom!
Back to June 19th, and ending the reign of terror of the for-profit healthcare industry.
The organizers obtained a permit to set up on the sidewalk directly in front of the Moscone Center, so the insurance industry thugs had to quite literally push their way through thousands of hot and angry demonstrators to get inside. And if you could have seen the smirks on all their faces. A sea of smirks. These thugs will remember June 19th, they won't be smirking when they're all out of work.
I kept telling people that if this demonstration had happened in New York City, the N.Y.P.D. under the direction of Michael Bloomberg would have barricaded us three blocks from the convention center.
The S.F. police were with us 1000%. Thanks again to Mayor Newsom, CNA, and the S.F.P.D.
Take a look.
One more historic video courtesy of Pris from LA.
This one shows us emerging from the church where we had lunch, picked up signs and water and got into formation. Then we followed a New Orleans Jazz band blasting a rousing version of When the Saints Go Marching In on a march to Moscone West. There we met thousands of protestors who had already massed four and five deep and were surrounding Moscone.
Take a look.
And another video from Kentucky from Hillbilly Report.
And a link to another diary about June 19th from donnasicko.
I'll end with an important update. Make a big note in your 2009 agenda. There are discussions underway about a huge healthcare march on Washington, the tentative plan is for Spring (the early word is May--subject to change, of course) 2009.
One million Americans (or more) will descend on Washington to demand affordable and guaranteed cradle to grave healthcare. When you remove AHIP from the process--this should be quite doable. We'll finally get HR 676, single payer healthcare, what the rest of the civilized world takes for granted.
June 19th 2008, was just a trial run.