A call went out yesterday for folks to come to Peabody Square to rally in support of Health Care Reform and specifically Representative John Tierney. Apparently a right wing group announced an anti-everything demo in front of John Tierney's district office. On short notice progressives organized a great greeting for them.
The rallying cry went out through a variety of sources including the North Shore Labor Council, Mass Nurses, Health Care advocates and party activists. I received four e-mails from different sources yesterday, so this was fairly last minute. The wingers had announced that they wanted to arrive at 1 PM. The emails asked for folks to arrive at 12:30 to get in place.
The work paid off in several hundred people showing up to support health care reform and a genuine progressive elected official. There were lots of single payer fans which is appropriate given Tierney's upport of HR-676. The wingers were confined to the steps of the court house a long way away from the Congressman's office. There was lots of press present so I am interested in how they will play the fact that there were four or five times more pro-reform than teabagger types.
The wingers used their right to visit the office so they had to walk past hundreds of pro-reform people and signs. There was a loud and enthusiastic response from the cars passing through the busy town center. All in all it was a great chance to show our colors and network with folks who want to improve our system and improve both equity and efficiency.
We might consider such shows of force everywhere.