Friday, October 9, 2009

Health-care activists arrested in Chicago sit-in


Arrests at Cigna in downtown Chicago yesterday. (Via Illinois Media Progressives.)

Police dragged seven health-care protesters from a pro-reform sit-in at Cigna's downtown Chicago offices yesterday, dragging them by hands and feet. Outside, a rally whose members included Illinois Rep. Mary E. Flowers (D-31st) chanted, "Cigna profits! People die!"

I don't know who the brave individuals who let themselves be arrested were, but they have my profound gratitude. All I know is that they represent the Illinois Single Payer Coalition, the Chicago Single Payer Action Network, Progressive Democrats of America and Physicians for a National Health Care Program.

No news media troubled to report the names of those arrested. AP did a short item on the story, which is all the Chicago Tribune ran. No other mainstream Chicago media covered it at all, so far as I can tell.

"And we will stand with you, as you have stood with us," wrote the Sun-Times today, announcing its new owners. I'm glad the paper will survive.

But where were you yesterday?