USA Today – Senate healthcare bill protesters dragged away from ‘die-in’ at Mitch McConnell’s office

Disability advocates staged what they called a ‘die in’ outside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office Thursday to protest the GOP health care plan and proposed cuts to Medicaid. Police arrested a number of them, some in wheelchairs. (June 22) AP

On the day that GOP senators released their version of legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare, protesters staged Thursday a sit-in in front of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office, resulting in 43 people being forcibly removed and arrested.

The disability rights activists, some of whom were in wheelchairs, were there to voice their opposition to health care legislation that would make deep cuts to Medicaid. They called their protest a “die-in.”

Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva Malecki said many of the demonstrators removed themselves from their wheelchairs and lay down on the floor, blocking the hallway.

One video showed people chanting, “No cuts to Medicaid, save our liberty!”

The Capitol Police said 15 men and 28 women were arrested and charged with crowding and obstructing.

There were reports of blood on the ground and paramedics arriving on the scene.

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05 - USA Today - Senate healthcare bill protesters dragged away from 'die-in' at Mitch McConnell's office