Healthcare Rally draws 60 to candlelight vigil

9/3/2009 - Dan Pool

A larger than expected crowd turned out for a candlelight vigil on healthcare at the Pickens courthouse Wednesday night. The crowd was subdued with none of the fiery rhetoric or anti-protests that have made news around the country. Several onlookers and participants in the rally expressed surprise at the number of people who attended a rally organized by a group known for its liberal base. David Robinson, the lead speaker, said the rally at the Pickens courthouse was one of 300 organized around the country that night by MoveOn.org to show congress that Americans want healthcare reform. He was followed by a series of speakers who read statements about Americans currently suffering under the nation’s healthcare, including people who can not afford treatment, have been denied insurance coverage or have had to close small business over healthcare issues. A few speakers recited stories about Pickens resident who have had disastrous’ experiences with the healthcare industry, including a woman who knew she had lung cancer but could not receive treatment until she turned 65 years old and was eligible for Medicare, prolonging her suffering and treatment and escalating the cost to the government program.

David Robinson encouraged people to continue to call, e-mail and fax members of congress on the need for healthcare reform Wednesday at the Pickens courthouse.