Health Care for America Now Rally Draws 500 Supporters

On April 9, 2009, CIR members joined hundreds of health care reform activists at “Salsa to Save Lives,”  a rally and dance party at Tiguex Park in Albuquerque. The event was sponsored by Health Care for America NOW! (HCAN),  a  coalition of small businesses, labor unions, women’s groups, doctors, nurses, small businesses, and faith-based organizations.

CIR National Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Elizabeth Burpee spoke about the need giving patients the choice of a public insurance option, one of the principles of health care reform supported by the HCAN coalition and currently being debated in Washington. 

Dr. Toni Lewis, CIR National President, was in town for the event and spoke about the issues of health care equality and the disparities of care doctors witness every day in caring for patients of different races and socio-economic backgrounds.

Members of Congress heard the message loud and clear.  During the rally, attendees participated in a mass call-in action, contacting members of Congress on their cell phones to urge them to support immediate action on comprehensive health care reform.