By Bob Brigham
June 16, 2008
Thousands of Californians and concerned citizens are expected to take advantage of free regional public transit Thursday to protest America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) annual convention in San Francisco.
The convention, to be held at Moscone Convention Center, is expected to draw as many as 38,000 health insurance executives and lobbyists who are spending millions of dollars to oppose single-payer health care bills SB 840 and HR 676.
The unusual decision by AHIP to host their convention in downtown San Francisco will place convention attendees on a collision course with several major unions including the California Nurses Association and United Educators of San Francisco. While there will be thousands of protesters for the national television cameras to document, the protest will also leverage the use of viral communications to help spread the word.
The Moscone Convention Center is the same venue that for a decade has been the go-to place for major announcements. The outdated model of profit-driven health insurance will be contrasted by teachers, nurses, labor unions, community leaders and thousands of concerned citizens all unified in their support for single-payer health care.
Organizers are pushing for attendees to bring their cell phones for an exciting text message program. Attendees will also bring digital cameras to send pictures of the protest to friends.
As earlier reported, former DNC Chair and Hillary Clinton for President National Chairman Terry McAuliffe is being targeted by the protesters for his participation as a paid speaker during the convention. McAuliff’s attendance “lends the event credibility and, in my mind, embarrasses Hillary Clinton, while giving the industry political cover,” wrote Todd Beaton, an online Clinton supporter.
With tens of thousands of Americans dying each year due to our health care crisis, Thursday’s protests may prove to be the largest media event of the year in support of single payer health care.
The rally will begin at noon at Moscone Center West. More protest information available here.
Bob Brigham works as a consultant for the Courage Campaign which recently sent an email statewide with the subject line Please don’t do it, Terry McAuliffe.
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