At a rally sponsored by almost two dozen organizations, Rhode Islanders joined together Wednesday at Kennedy Plaza to send a clear message to Congress:  No excuses.  No more politics.  Congress must act to create jobs and to pass strong health care reform.

Rhode Islanders are struggling with record unemployment, unaffordable health care, foreclosures, and trouble putting food on the table and making ends meet.  Rhode Island, and the rest of the nation, needs Congress to act now to make investments that create good jobs now, and that will lead us toward a stronger future.  These include investments in infrastructure, education, health care, transit, renewable energy, housing, and green jobs. 

Speakers at the rally emphasized the urgent need for Congress to act to create more jobs, shore up our economy, address global warming, protect workers’ rights, rein in corporate greed, and finally achieve quality, affordable health care for all.

“We need Congress to pass a strong jobs creation bill that will put Rhode Islanders and people across the country back to work,” said Daniel Bass, organizer at Ocean State Action.  “There is work to be done repairing our infrastructure; moving toward a green economy that will provide 21st century jobs; investing in education and job training, and getting our economy moving again.”

“Unemployment is a social epidemic, especially in communities of color,” said Luther Allen, who is currently unemployed and a member of Direct Action for Rights and Equality in addition to the Unemployed Council, “and the cure is simply more jobs."

Abel Collins, Director of the Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter, called for jobs creation legislation that included investments in transit.  “Studies show that every dollar spent on improving transit results in six further dollars of smart economic development and that means jobs.”

Speakers at the rally also pressed Congress to move forward and pass strong health care reform that will make coverage more affordable, hold the insurance industry accountable, and cover millions of Americans currently without health insurance. 

“Even in the midst of this Great Recession, the health industry had record profits last year, and the top 5 insurance companies had profits of over $12 billion last year alone,” said Pawtucket resident Ed Benson, a MoveOn.org member and health reform supporter.  “Corporations are making these profits by denying people needed care, kicking people off their roles, raising health coverage prices, and increasing co-pays.”

“Health care is a right, and nobody should have to die because they can’t afford it, but the truth is, there are people in America dying everyday because they don’t have access to care,” said Hannah Watson, a Brown University Medical School student.  “And for every person that dies, there are dozens more who are forced to declare bankruptcy, and dozens more who have to choose between paying for health care and putting food on their families table, paying rent, and paying their electricity bills.”

Dan Bass - Opening Remarks

Pat Crowley - Being Pat Crowley

Luther Allen - DARE, Unemployed Council

George Nee - RI AFL-CIO

Abel Collins - Rhode Island Sierra Club

Ed Benson - Health Care Activist

Hannah Watson - Brown University Medical Student / AMSA

Sponsors of Jobs Now! Health Care Now! Rally: Ocean State Action, RI Jobs with Justice, RI AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 94, RI Building & Construction Trades Council, RI Coalition for the Homeless, College Democrats of RI, Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Doctors For America, Grey Panthers, Laborers Local 271 (LIUNA), American Medical Students Association, MoveOn.Org, RI National Organization for Women, OpenDoors, Open Table of Christ Church, Painters Local 195 (IUPAT), RI Progressive Democrats of America, SEIU 1199 NE, RI Sierra Club, Brown University Student Labor Alliance, RI Unemployed Council.