Saturday, Nov. 12, Dewey Square, Boston, MA – Hundreds of Boston area residents and health advocates will gather with physicians, nurses, social workers and students for a Health Justice Day of Action.  Participants will gather at Dewey Square starting at 9:30AM to provide medical services, including flu shots and free health screenings, in collaboration with local health workers.  At noon there will be a speak out followed by a 1PM March and Rally on the State House to raise awareness about the health impact of unemployment, housing foreclosures, and Medicare and Medicaid cuts.

“We want 100% health care for the 99%!” said Matthew Malek, a family medicine practitioner.  “Insurance for all doesn’t guarantee health for all. It’s time to take the profit out of healthcare.”

With the rising cost of health care in the Commonwealth and as the Congressional Super Committee threatens to cut millions of dollars in life-saving programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, organizers will call for guaranteed health care for all US residents. Among Massachusetts residents, 1 in 5 (1.3 million) have Medicaid and while Wall Street was bailed out, millions of dollars in funding to essential health and mental health programs have been cut and millions more are on the chopping block. Organizers warn that saving pennies up front will only lead to increased costs down the road.  Already, emergency room visits have increased as more and more people have lost access to basic primary care and mental health services.  Who will foot the bill? The 99%, organizers say.

The event is sponsored by the newly formed Health Justice working group of Occupy Boston, a group of Boston area physicians, nurses, social workers, students, public health advocates, and community members, which stands up for health care as a human right and sees this right being denied to millions of Americans due to lack of access to affordable and appropriate care.  For more information, please visit our website at www.healthjusticeboston.org or email us at healthjusticebostonWG@gmail.com.

Chad Stokes of the bands Dispatch and State Radio will play Occupy Boston today, Wednesdat Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. on the main stage, following political satirist and comedian Barry Crimmins who will begin at 4 p.m.

Occupy Boston Stands with Workers against “Super Committee” Cuts! 

11:00 AM, Wed, Nov. 9th, at The Wang Theater
(270 Tremont St., Boston, MA)

The Super Committee, which includes MA Senator John Kerry, is meeting behind closed doors to decide how to cut $1.5 Trillion from federal spending by November 23. Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social programs crucial to the 99% are expected to be made by a “committee” appointed by a government bought and paid for by the 1%. Cuts to social services would most severely affect those already most oppressed by the system: the poor, elderly, youth, people of color, LGBTQ… Join the Boston area labor movement to say stop the cuts! Fund jobs and social services for the 99%!

Labor Co-Sponsors so far include:
1199SEIU; AFGE District 2; Boston Building and Construction Trades Council; Community Labor United; GALLAN; Greater Boston Labor Council; IBEW Local 2222; IBEW Local 103; IUE-CWA Local 201; MA AFL-CIO; Massachusetts Building Trades Council, AFL-CIO; MA Jobs with Justice; Mass Nurses Association; Mass Teachers Association; NAGE; North Shore
Labor Council; SEIU Massachusetts State Council; SEIU 888; SEIU 615; SEIU 888; and Western MA Jobs with Justice

Action! Occupy Boston Stands with Massachusetts Teachers and Parents who say: “Michelle Rhee Gets an F”

Wed, Nov 9th March from Dewy Square at 6:30 p.m. 

Rally at 7:00 p.m. at Symphony Hall
(301 Massachusetts Ave.)

Rhee-port card grade: F
√ Disrespecting educators √ Failing students and parents √ Fostering a culture of cheating and test score inflation √ Union busting

Former Washington Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee is bringing her controversial brand of school ‘Rhee-form’ to Boston. Help us give Rhee an ‘F’—for disrespecting  teachers, failing parents and students and fostering a culture of cheating. Her
organization, “Students First” places Corporations First, working class kids last.  Stand up to corporate education. Fight for good public education for all!