When I got there the Raging Grannies were already singing. Click above to see the best of what I saw wandering through the crowd before the speakers began.

Sandy Perry was the MC for the speaking portion of the meeting. He explained that this had originally been planned as a rally to apply pressure to Rebecca Cohn to support Universal Health Care, but she had decided to support the measure in a meeting with Senator Kuehl. Because of that, they had decided to make the event into a "Thank You Rebecca!" celebration, as well as to continue to build support for SB 921 and single payer universal health care. Then he started introducing other speakers.

Senior Pastor Scott Wagers explained that Universal Healthcare is not exactly a front burner issue for most of the general public. He said that health care was a survival issue for the 43 million uninsured, and a moral issue for our country as a whole. He urged us to stand up for justice, just as Moses stood up before Pharaoh.

Dave Wald explained that many events like this one are occurring in other parts of the state. He then explained that realistically, the best we can hope for is a victory at the committee level this year because the votes aren't there to get the Assembly to pass it. He expects the struggle is going to have to continue next year.

Roz Dean announced that this coming Saturday (June 19, 2004) there will be a march to "BRIDGE THE GAP IN HEALTHCARE" across the Golden Gate Bridge. She is urging people to sign up for the busses that are going up there NOW!

Peg Elwell was a Labor Party Activist. She explained that the pictures were of people known to CHAM that had died without health care in the streets. People like Yolanda Engiles and Jamie Harless were carrying them to put a human face on the problem.

The cop showed up for about a minute, reminded us not to prevent others from using the sidewalk to get into the building where Rebecca Cohn's office is (behind the event). Then he left quickly. You could tell he didn't really want to hear whatever it was we were talking about.

Cary Sanders from SIREN (Services Immigrant Rights Education Network) said she expects the battle to go on for years, and that she would be there for the long term.

John Daval explained that some Doctor had told him he couldn't get an operation he needs unless he loses at least 100 pounds. Also, since a hunger strike on the steps of the State Capitol had worked for the students to get their funding restored, he was going to do the same thing.

We finished up the event with a march.