Health is not partisan – it’s primary for each of us. Washington politicians slashed $1 trillion from our healthcare safety net, and they intentionally delayed the pain until after the upcoming November elections. They are trying to hide the devastating consequences from voters, so we are mobilizing on June 5 to force them to answer for it before we cast our ballots.
We are not fooled and we will not be silent. Join us! We’ll meet at the corner of Bridge and Parsons Streets in Northampton and walk on sidewalks to City Hall, where we will hold a rally followed by a brief vigil to memorialize all those who died from lack of access to healthcare. If marching is not for you, meet us at City Hall at 8 PM.
Show Up Sing Out! will lead us in songs, and speakers include State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, CD01 candidate Jeromie Whelan, Rev. Dr. Matilda Cantwell (UCC Chaplain); Elliot Davey from First Churches will speak on and lead a prayer for the most vulnerable among us; Rev. Dr. Diane Johnson (First Churches, Northampton), Asst Prof . Krystal Kittle (Community Health Education, UMass Amherst), and Emma Kristjanson-Gural (Bay State Throw Trans Kids Under the Bus).
Bring signs. Here are a few options or create your own:
– Health Cuts Kill
-They Cut, We Fight
– Healthcare – Life Depends On It
– Will You Still Have Healthcare After Midterms?
– Healthcare Not Warfare
– Save Medicare and Medicaid! Stop the Cuts!
– Save Our Hospitals! Stop the Cuts!
Co-sponsors: Rise Up Western MA Indivisible, Indivisible Easthampton, River Valley Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution, FemGen Amherst, The Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence Democracy Action Team.
Stripping $1 trillion from Medicaid, public health, and rural hospitals is potentially deadly for our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. Researchers estimate these cuts will cause over 51,000 preventable deaths every year. Our local community already has experienced cuts to services for our trans neighbors as well as veterans and their families.
When federal health funds disappear, the burden doesn’t vanish – it falls on us. Local hospitals will be forced into mass layoffs, and county governments will have to drastically hike local property taxes to pay for uncompensated emergency care.
Across the nation, patients, nurses, and advocates are holding town halls, forums, and candlelight vigils as part of the Seven Days in June Campaign (sevendaysinjune.org). We demand that every representative go on the record right now: will you protect our care, or will you let our local health systems collapse?
A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. We expect hosts to ensure all participants in your event uphold this commitment. We recommend all participants review our safety and security resource before your event: https://indivisi.org/safety.
To submit an event to the calendar, email calendar@swingbluealliance.org