Winds of Change in Chicago
Activists in Chicago, Illinois gathered outside Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois last week, and let the private insurer know that Americans are sick of our broken health care system:
"We estimate between 40 to 50 people attended. It was energetic, loud and serious," reports Elizabeth Lalasz of Chicago Single Payer Action Network. She said the group formed a circle in front of the building and chanted, "Hey Blue Cross, what do you say, how many claims did you deny today?" and "People over profits, single-payer now."
Blue Cross security officials did their best to keep the company's employees away from the protests, but despite their best efforts, some of the insurer's own workers let the activists know that they, too, are sick of our system:
Several BCBS executives came out, as well as security, to make sure BCBS employees didn't talk to any of the protesters. In fact, security made the employees go out the side entrance in order to avoid the CSPAN group. So, the group moved the picket over to where the employees were coming out, and a decent number of BCBS employees took CSPAN flyers and Lalasz said several of them mouthed, "I agree with you." Later, CSPAN got word that BCBS employees received an email directing them to not talk to the protesters.[CLiCK here to read more about the protests]
