Portland sit-in for single-payer

PORTLAND, Ore.--More than 100 activists rallied for single-payer health care outside the downtown building of Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon October 15 to demand that executives of the company meet with single-payer advocates.

Although it was initially planned as a sit-in protest, security at the building preemptively locked it down before the rally started, preventing single-payer supporters from entering. Demonstrators responded by holding a sit-in in front of all the entrances to the building--blocking the front door, the side doors and the parking garage entrance by linking arms.

A rally was then held at the front entrance, with speakers that included a member of the Oregon-based group Mad as Hell Doctors. A woman whose husband was denied care for carpal tunnel syndrome by Blue Cross also spoke, as representatives from Blue Cross had denied her entry to the building.

For over two hours, all entrances to the building were blocked by single-payer advocates. At one point, a catering-company van attempting to enter the parking garage was forced to turn around as dozens of demonstrators chanted "Single payer now!"

At approximately 12:20 p.m., policed showed up to confront the activists, who coalesced around one entrance to the building. Approximately 10 demonstrators (who had previously agreed to risk arrest) blocked the entrance, while others gathered around them with chants of support.

Those blocking the entrance, who wore shirts stating "Patients before profits!" and "Medicare for all," were put in handcuffs and carted away, one by one, by police. As each advocate for single-payer was arrested, other demonstrators cheered them to give support. After all the arrests were made, protesters chanted, "We'll be back!" as they marched off the premises.

The insurance company bosses may be able to isolate themselves within their corporate towers, but the movement for single-payer health care in this country is just getting started. And we're knocking on their doors.