Activists rally at state Capitol

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By Craig Schneider

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

More than 700 supporters of the Democrat-led health care reform rallied outside the state Capitol Thursday, chanting in favor of health coverage for all Americans.

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Theo Aamakers was one of several hundred supporters of healthcare reform who voiced their opinions in front of the Georgia State Capitol August 4, 2009. Aamakers said his former health care provider denied him coverage because of what they considered a pre-existing condition.

Brant Sanderlin, bsandlerin@ajc.com Theo Aamakers was one of several hundred supporters of healthcare reform who voiced their opinions in front of the Georgia State Capitol August 4, 2009. Aamakers said his former health care provider denied him coverage because of what they considered a pre-existing condition.

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Annette Cotter, 69, of DeKalb County, said that when her husband contracted bacterial meningitis, his insurance company canceled his policy. The couple ended up spending $700 a month for a Cobra insurance policy.

“He had worked his whole life,” she said.

Like much of the crowd, she favored the “public option” proposal that would expand coverage to the unemployed and needy.

“We lived in Brussels for three years and we never paid a penny, and we never waited like I wait for my doctor here,” she said.

The rally was sponsored by Moveon.org, Health Care for America Now, and Organizing for America.

A much smaller contingent of about 20 opponents to the Democrat plan faced off against the crowd at a corner by the Capitol.

Supporters held signs saying “Public Option = Affordable Health Care” and opponents held signs such as “Washington -- Leave Us Alone.”

Members of both groups shouted at each other but there was no pushing or violence.

Opponent Kathy Harper of Griffin said, “I am sick and tired of our government running roughshod over us.”

Health care, she added, is not a right in America.

“You show me where health care is a right in the Constitution, and I’ll put down this sign and walk away,” she said.

Rev. Timothy McDonald, a leader of the patient advocate group called The Grady Coalition, said to the crowd, “We stand here as people who believe that health care is a moral issue. We will not be intimidated by those who holler at town hall meetings. Today we stand for health care for all Americans.”