This morning, Christians from a range of faith traditions and ethnic backgrounds will descend on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) office to urge Congress not to leave vulnerable people without health insurance.
Red Letter Christians, Repairers of the Breach, and Faith in Public Life have joined together in direct action to stop the so-called ‘Better Care Reconciliation Act’ that threatens millions of vulnerable Americans.
Through a series of actions, clergy and moral activists will speak out — and risk arrest through civil disobedience — to demonstrate moral dissent over the health bill under consideration in the Senate.
Don Golden, executive director of Red Letter Christians and a co-convener of the action, points to Jesus’ words as justification for direct action, “Jesus said ‘when I was sick, you took care of me.’”
READ: The Holy Tradition of Going to Jail for Jesus by Shane Claiborne
Rev. William Barber was arrested last week outside of Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s office, along with Rev. Jennifer Butler of Faith and Public Life and others in protest of Trump’s proposed replacement health care legislation. With that measure all but dead, Rev. Barber returns to Sen. McConnell’s office today with a coalition asking for mercy for millions, many whose lives depend on health insurance gained through the Affordable Care Act.
If the Senate bill becomes law, it would slash Medicaid and take health insurance away from 22 million low-income Americans, people with disabilities, children and seniors — while lavishing tax cuts on insurance companies and the very wealthy.
Rev. Barber states, “Claiming to be ‘pro-life’ while actively working to take health care from 22 million working poor people is hypocrisy and sin.”
READ: Now is The Time for Prophetic Moral Action by Rev. William Barber
Pray for all those engaging in moral resistance today. (View the full schedule below.) And be sure to follow along to the livestream as faith leaders return to Sen. McConnell’s office at 11:30am to stand for healthcare.
8.30 AM: Training and orientation at Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St. NE Washington, DC 20003)
9.45 AM: March to the Capitol (rally at corner of First Street NE & Constitution Ave.)
10.30 AM: Join in solidarity with Black Clergy Voices, a coalition of African American pastors, who will be holding a press conference. Rev. William Barber will be the closing speaker.
11.30 AM: March with Rev. Barber to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office to voice our protest