When we heard news that our coalition partners at Health Care for America Now and the AFL-CIO had plans to host a protest against America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which represents the health insurance industry and recently released a false report attacking health care reform, we grabbed our “Youth for the Public Option” signs and joined them.

After a galvanizing speech by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, over 400 people marched to the Capitol Hilton where lobbyists from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) were meeting to discuss their despicable views on health care reform. The protesters picketed all along the block where the Hilton was located, chanting up and down the sidewalks on both sides of the street.

Seven families with heartbreaking stories of abuse by insurance companies flew into DC from all over the country in hopes of meeting with top insurance officials, including AHIP CEO Karen Ignani. But the big shots wouldn’t come out to hear their mistreated consumers’ stories.

Still, morale was strong, with people shouting chants like, “AHIP, get off it! People over profit!”

The rally demonstrated citizens’ dedication to achieving effective health care reform. Amidst clamorous applause, Trumka entreated protesters to “call those senators, and let them know that it’s not OK to have the insurance companies happy unless the American public are healthy… We’re going to have to redouble our efforts, we’re going to have to make more calls, we’re going to have to write more letters, and [we] will not stop until the health care bill that families desperately need, and desperately deserve, is signed by President Obama.” We support that 100%.