Hundreds rallied in support for the Affordable Care Act at the Indiana Statehouse Jan. 15.
The rally in Indianapolis was one of 40 that took place across the country, all held to show grassroots support for the protection of "Obamacare" from repeal, according to a press release from the Indiana Democratic Party.
There were two rallies in Indiana, including one in Connersville and another in Indianapolis that rallied 973 people, event organizers estimated.
Organizers said they conducted these rallies after being called upon by Sen. Bernie Sanders after a proposed amendment failed in the Senate. On Jan. 11, the Senate voted down a measure by Sanders and Sen. Amy Klobuchar meant to keep the price of prescription drugs low by importing them from Canada.
The rally consisted of keynote speakers, including Rep. André Carson and Sen. Joe Donnelly.
Although he had previously voted in support of the Affordable Care Act, Donnelly was one senator who voted against the Klobuchar-Sanders measure.
His approach to the lectern was met with booing from the crowd and questions about whether or not Donnelly was going to “sell out” Indiana Democrats.
Jonathan George, a junior political science major at Ball State, attended the rally and also questioned Donnelly’s loyalty to Democratic ideology.
GALLERY: Bernie Sanders Save Health Care Rally
“[I'm] really disappointed in Joe Donnelly, actually,” George said. "I’ve got to call him."
Although George said he supports public
“Hopefully, if [a repeal] happened, they have a plan, they have a backup plan. They’re basically leaving people to die,” George said.
Barbara Giorgio, an assistant professor in the school of art, agreed that there needs to be some form of public
“I am hoping that they don’t just completely dismantle it, that they’re forced to keep certain aspects of it,” Giorgio said at his first Affordable Care Act rally. “I just figured I can’t sit idly by. I need to learn more about the issues so I learn how to fight."
Organizers handed out fact sheets, provided a place for rally-goers to sign up to join local groups and passed out contact lists for Senators and members of Congress so that those in attendance could call their government officials and voice their opinions.
Kim Saylor, a former national Bernie Sanders delegate and rally organizer, wanted those in attendance to take action to help save the Affordable Care Act.
“Call your senators. Call your congressmen,” Saylor said. "Let them know that you will not stand for the ACA being repealed without a replacement that is proper and takes care of preexisting conditions."
Sophomore telecommunications major Bailey Reeder also attended the rally and said she thought the rally was not only effective in its call to action, but also in starting conversations about public healthcare.
“Some people here know more than others, so it gets the idea out, gets information out, and
Donna Hunt, a resident of Farmland, said she attended the rally in Connersville because she worries about the future of Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, which meant the difference between life and death for her daughter.
“I have a 27-year-old daughter who, just within the past two years, has heart failure and she’s only 27. And she went through congestive heart failure, was hospitalized and she was able to get through 'Obamacare' she was able to get insurance,” Hunt said. “It saved her life.”
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