Protesters both for and against healthcare gather at Federal Building
Story Created:
Mar 18, 2010 at 3:51 PM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 18, 2010 at 4:36 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Citizens from both side of the political coin gathered outside the Federal Building on Broad Street in Utica Thursday, where they voiced their opinions on the very polarizing - and for many very personal - issue of health care reform.
Just yards apart from each other, protesters for and against health care reform told their stories and reacted to the news that Congressman Michael Arcuri was voting against the health care bill. There may have been some confrontation between the two groups Thursday, but the protests there remained peaceful, nonetheless.
Despite the news that Arcui is voting "no," those for health care reform plan to carry on, hoping that while they may have lost the battle in their district, they'll win the war in Washington.
"We're still going to go on to promote the health care reform act," said Sal Convertino, an AARP Volunteer. "Something will occur here by the weekend, and we'll have health care reform."
Those against reform are also still skeptical because they've seen Congressman Arcuri change his mind before.
"We don't trust him to stay with his "no" vote," said Billie Stan, who is against healthcare Reform. "Politicians have let us down in the past. We want proof that what they're saying is going to happen and not what they say and then one day - 'oh guess what - we got all this stuff for the district.' That money was in this district until they took it out with taxes."
Petitions, signs, t-shirts and personal stories were all part of Thursday's events, but at the end of the day, both sides think it all comes down to politics.
"We've got to keep the pressure on," Stan said. "We can not stop. We don't know what kind of arm-twisting and bribery will be going on."
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