July 20, 2017
Watch: Gay NYC Councilman Among 155 Arrested Protesting GOP's Attempt to Dismantle Health Care
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
New York City Councilman Corey Johnson is gay and HIV positive. And he's not about to see congressional Republicans take healthcare away from millions of Americans in their latest attempt to eliminate much of President Barack Obama's signature legislation.
He was one of 155 demonstrators Wednesday who were arrested in Washington, D.C. protesting the latest GOP attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare.
"Today I was arrested, in an act of peaceful civil disobedience, inside the United States Capitol at the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell," Johnson said in a statement to constituents. "I and hundreds of others with preexisting medical conditions from around the country occupied the offices of Republican Senators and demanded that they immediately cease all efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act."
"I am HIV-positive. As an elected official, I am lucky to have good health care. But there are countless others who could literally die if the Republicans get their way," Johnson added.
According to The Associated Press, U.S. Capitol Police say they arrested around 155 demonstrators in 45 different spots in three Senate office buildings as Republicans continue working on legislation to eliminate much of Obama's health care law.
Those arrested were charged with obstructing public spaces, a misdemeanor. Police say four people were also charged with resisting arrest
"Trump, McConnell and Ryan are still driving hard to repeal the ACA and strip health care from tens of millions of Americans," Johnson wrote. "What they are doing is pure evil. We must not allow it."
Johnson's arrest came on the heels of a report released by the Congressional Budget Office that said that nearly 32 million Americans would lose health insurance by 2026 under the plan put forth by Republican senators to repeal Obamacare.
Taking to Facebook, Johnson wrote of the motivation behind his decision to protest in Washington.
"I do this as an openly gay, openly HIV positive man who is lucky enough to have good health insurance," he said. "I do in the spirit of all the folks that came before me -- the folks who were part of ACT-UP -- and who saved my life.
"Progress is not guaranteed and neither is injustice - so long as we fight," he added. "Silence = Death. We will not be silent. We are in this fight for all Americans. Onward!"
