A small protest was staged Friday in downtown Buffalo where protestors rallied against a plan to abolish the Affordable Care Act.
The event took place outside the Federal Building at 130 South Elmwood.
Protestors expressed concern about the impact that a Republican-sponsored plan in the U.S. Senate would have on low-income families and workers. The warned that proposed changes could put about 20 million Americans in danger.
Some speakers conceded that the existing law needs revisions, and they urged feuding sides to forge a bipartisan compromise.
“What we have to deal with now is an Affordable Care Act that needs a lot of work, improvement and repair,” said Bill Covington, Regional organizer for The Healthcare Education Project. “If we can defeat this current attempt to set the whole healthcare system backwards, then we can hope both sides of the Congress can work together to improve that.”
Covington says the latest proposal would transfer control of healthcare to the states, opening the door to states feeling enormous pressure from insurance companies.
Karla Thomas, director of outreach and marketing for The Community Health Center of Buffalo, warned that some changes could mean the difference between life and death for some people.
“You have to be reasonable about the limitations you put on things,” Thomas said. “Especially when you start talking about saying ‘Well, that’s it, there’s no more money for you. There’s no more money, so you’re just going to die.’ It’s just not fair, and it’s not the American way.”
