HARTFORD: The lead-up to today’s rally for universal health care promised a turn-out equaling that of the Ax the Tax rally during the Weicker administration. This was hype that actually did not disappoint. The area of Bushnell Park by the Corning Fountain was filled with an extremely diverse gathering of people–many kids and mostly people of color–who came out to support quality health care for all. According to the press kit made available at the rally, over “400,000 Connecticut residents are without health insurance” and “84% of Connecticut’s voters want universal health care.”

On the perimeter were food vendor trucks, Power 104 (why, I don’t know), AFSCME Council 4, Local 1298, Social Workers Support Healthcare, Connecticut’s Community Healthcare, and the UAW. There was a “family comfort station” and face painting, but nothing else really geared toward children.

The rally began with performance by the Praise Troupe Dance Team–a bunch of young kids dancing to hip-hop gospel music. The religious theme continued with a musical performance by A7, a group of seven talented males who mostly sang music of the Christian type. The entertainment was lively and interesting, but such consistently Judeo-Christian displays of faith can irritate the less devout after awhile. Still, music and dancing is certainly preferred to boring speeches.

There were speeches, but those were kept relatively short and did have some highlights. One of these included Rabbi Fuch’s explanation for his breaking of the Sabbath:

Saving lives is more important than the Sabbath

Doubtful those words will fall on Lieberman’s ears ever.

Many organizations were represented. A few of these were: 32BJ SEIU, Connecticut Puerto Rican Forum, United Action of Connecticut, CORD, Blue Hills Civic Association, AFT Connecticut, First Church of the Living God, Phillips Metropolitan CME, and Iglesia Bautista Emanuel. It was impossible for me to get a head count, but anywhere from 5,000+ sounds about right.

Also spotted in the crowd– Mayor Eddie Perez, Bill Curry, and Elizabeth Horton Sheff.

We will have interviews and audio footage of this event on this week’s episode of RadioActive.

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