Insurers face 'arrest' in protest
Protesters to serve fake warrants to insurance CEOs.
Activists will serve mock "citizens warrants" on insurance company CEOs tomorrow.
Thousands of people who support passing a health care overhaul are expected to march towards the Ritz Carlton Hotel near the Capitol, where insurers will be gathering for a policy meeting with America's Health Insurance Plans.
Once there, they will try to get into the building and "arrest" the executives. It's more likely that the protesters will be arrested if they make that attempt, but organizers said the rally of 3,000 will be peaceful.
"We're sure it's not going to get out of hand," Richard Kirsch, who helped organize the protest, said on a conference call with reporters Monday.
The group plans to bring along wanted posters printed from Citizen's Posse and Arrest the CEO , sites created by Health Care for America Now for this week's event. HCAN is a conglomerate of labor unions, liberal nonprofits, and service providers that favor President Obama's health plan.
The posters, which HCAN said people should print and post on bulletin boards, accuse insurers of involuntary manslaughter for denying people health coverage.
"While [insurance companies] were posting record profits, they were doubling rates" in some states, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said on the call.
The activists accuse the insurance industry group of spending millions of dollars to derail the health care bills. But AHIP states that its members want legislation to curb costs and protect consumers .
Some prominent voices, including Democratic leader Howard Dean and author Barbara Ehrenreich, are expected to speak at tomorrow's protest. Chris Shiflett, guitarist for the Foo Fighters, has also created a video to "deputize" citizens who want to take part in the arrest from home.
"In times of need, people like us must step up to bring criminals, corporate or otherwise, to justice," Shiflett says while issuing an oath of office on camera.
Labor unions are chartering buses to get their members into town for the event, noted Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. People are expected to come from as far as Florida.
Ambreen Ali writes for Congress.org.
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