Jim Cooper’s constituents aren’t happy, and they were showing their displeasure yesterday evening at the corner of West End Avenue and 25th Avenue. More than 200 Nashvillians gathered to demand genuine health care reform including a public option insurance program. Through this rally and other demonstrations planned for the coming week pro-reformers hope to pressure Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) to consider the mood of his constituents on health care reform issues.
Additional rallies are planned for today (Thursday) in front of the Nashville Public Library at 4:00 p.m. and in Murfreesboro at 6:00 p.m. The Murfreesboro rally is sponsored by Health Care For America Now! and over a dozen other groups, and promises to be on of the largest pro-reform rallies in Tennessee to date. For Nashvillians needing transportation to the Murfreesboro rally buses will be provided in front of the Nashville library, leaving around 5:00 p.m . Complete details are available here.
Not all in attendance last night were of the same mind on other political issues of the day, but an overwhelming resolve to press for the needs of the uninsured, under-insured and those struggling to meet exorbitant health insurance premiums brought together those of all political stripes. I was happy to meet 3 republicans who came to show their support for the public option. Despite some setbacks during the hot August congressional recess, pro-reformers are out in force and with renewed vigor. Hope remains for real reform.
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It was a great rally last night, and I counted 267 people on West End at 8:30. I counted by counting as I walked on the sidewalk from one end of the rally group to the other. So, it was a great turnout! I’m hoping to see even more today and this evening in Murfreesboro. Great blog!