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SFPD Summoned to Protect Blue Cross Executives

by Direct Action Protest Report
Serious issues call for direct action! Activists for real health care reform in the form of a Single Payer plan risked arrest at the door of Anthem Blue Cross in San Francisco today. At first, building security stood in front of revolving doors to block protesters from entering the "inner sanctum" where high level executives including Wellpoint CEO Angela Braly maintain offices. Then, the SFPD arrived...
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Anthem Blue Cross (owned by Wellpoint) is the biggest insurer in the state of California. Too big for their britches say health care reform activists.

It's no secret that Anthem Blue Cross has implemented an aggressive policy aimed at covering only the healthy. They do everything in their power to avoid covering those deemed high-risk because of “pre-existing conditions.” Is it any wonder that Anthem Blue Cross is called "California's most notorious private insurance company"?

At about 12:30 pm today, members of Direct Action for Single Payer and supporters willing to risk arrest broke off from a rally in Justin Herman Plaza and marched to the offices of Anthem Blue Cross at 2 Embarcadero Center in the heart of San Francisco. At first, building security stood in front of revolving doors to block protesters from entering the "inner sanctum" where high level executives including CEO Angela Braly have offfices. Then, the SFPD arrived...

Braly said recently that increases in premiums, as high as 39 percent for certain individuals, reflect higher costs from hospitals and drugmakers and denied that the company was taking too much profit. Single Payer (Medicare for All) activists demanded that Braly herself come out to speak with them. They brandished a large placard labelled "WARRANT FOR ARREST" and said they were prepared to deliver it to Braly.

Meanwhile, four Billionaires for Wealthcare who had followed the Single Payer demonstrators to Anthem Blue Cross HQ had demands of their own. They insisted that Angela meet them for cocktails at "the club" and when San Francisco police arrived pleaded with them to arrest the "unruly riff-raff". Billionaire Eunice Wentworth was overheard to say to officers, "What? We OWN you! Arrest these silly people immediately! And call my manicurist, I've chipped a nail!"

There were no arrests.
§Wanted: Angela Braly
by Direct Action Protest Report
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§Singing....
by Direct Action Protest Report
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"We Shall Overcharge" to the tune of "We Shall Overcome"
§Gathering...rallying...ready to march
by Direct Action Protest Report
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In the Plaza, before marching to the offices of Anthem Blue Cross
§Speaker
by Direct Action Protest Report
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In the Plaza, before marching to the offices of Anthem Blue Cross
§grabbing bloody money
by Direct Action Protest Report
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In the Plaza, Before marching to the offices of Anthem Blue Cross
§Protesters arrive and are greeted by...
by Direct Action Protest Report
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...building security and soon after...two execs. The one on the left is in charge of Media Relations.
§undaunted
by Direct Action Protest Report
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§Billionaires for Wealthcare make their demands outside the executive offices
by Direct Action Protest Report
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Send Angela down immediately! She promised to join us for martinis!
Single Payer demonstrators declared the Billionaires as well as Braly to be criminals...and forced them to stand behind Crime Scene Tape
This photo of courtesy Steve Rhodes under Creative Commons License on flickr.com
Others photos here by servants of Eunice Wentworth
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