The danger is real, but our determination is greater.

By Lindsay Imai Hong

Today, Republican Senators released their freshest attack on our lives. The New York Times writes about the newest version of their proposed healthcare bill:

“Like the previous bill, it would end the requirement that most Americans have health coverage, and it would make deep cuts to Medicaid, capping payments to states and rolling back its expansion under the Affordable Care Act.”

This means more people will get sick, more people will be uninsured (an estimated 22 million at most recent count), leaving them vulnerable to medical and financial disaster, more people will go without the in-home support they need to remain independent, and more people will die.

We’ve been fighting this disastrous repeal effort since day one, and we’re still fighting now. And “fight” isn’t a metaphor.

Our membership in California has been especially active, joining our allies at Bay Resistance, Senior & Disability Action, La Colectiva de Mujeres and others to fight back against the Republican proposal to end the ACA and gut Medicaid. Besides making phone calls to people in key Senate districts, asking them to call their senators, we’ve participated in two direct actions.

On June 21 and June 28, we joined our allies for two actions that both included a die-in in the street, at the intersection of 7th and Mission in front of the SF Federal Building. It felt powerful to join over a hundred other people each time, including seniors, people with disabilities, mothers, youth, lying on the hot concrete at noon in downtown San Francisco, blocking traffic. You can see photos from the action and access a link to Hand in Hand leader Sascha Bittner’s testimony that she gave on how Medicaid has saved her life, here.

At the first die-in, about 5 minutes after we had lain down or slumped over in our wheelchairs, I heard a very loud motor getting closer and closer. I didn’t realize what was happening until the motorcycle was already next to me, about 10 feet away, swerving through the crowd of people. He nearly hit a few folks and then tried to turn and come back through the crowd, until he was held at gunpoint by a police officer. It was all a blur as I was focused on assisting two of our members off the street and onto the sidewalk.

We regrouped on the sidewalk and were able to pull together through some moving speeches, songs and Jessica’s calm and resolute voice. I felt a bit shaken but more upset by the reminder of what fear for one’s safety feels like. This is a feeling that so many people in this country and planet feel constantly due to their race, ability, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status or religion.

It was also a reminder of the real hate that exists, even in the liberal Bay Area. So it felt great to get back into the street, just a week later, and do another die-in … this time with even more people.

Sheela, who is blind, as well as someone who must contend with threats to her safety every time she walks out the door, had this to say about the incident on the 21st and the larger fight for Medicaid and the ACA:

“As far as I’m concerned, we are at war. The Republicans are using pens as bullets. I feel strongly about getting back on the street: You don’t let the enemy scare you off the field, then they win by default.”

What’s to come? Phone banks are ongoing in the Bay Area at Senior and Disability Action (9–5pm, Tuesdays & Thursdays). Hand in Hand, with Bay Resistance, is helping organize an East Bay phone bank in downtown Oakland from 1:30pm-7:30pm on Wed July 19th. Email info@domesticemployers.org to RSVP and receive location details.

One of our Bay Area leaders will be offering a training in the history of ableism and disability rights on July 27th. RSVP here.

No matter where you are, you can call your representatives and convince your friends to do the same. Join actions in the streets. And stay tuned for next week, when we’ll likely see the CBO score and Mitch McConnell’s attempt to force a quick vote.

And let’s keep our long-term vision in our minds, even as we must protect what we’ve got … a caring world where interdependence is valued and everyone gets the care and support they need.