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We
had plans today to march through the Bronx, but when we saw
the conditions of the housing developments in Harlem we saw
that we needed to document these people's stories.
Two
families among many that we spoke with today both show the
different sides of the tragedy our health care system is today.
One woman who is raising two autistic sons has been continually
denied medical coverage and food stamp assistance for herself,
on the premise that her sons' assistance through SSI is enough
to support all three of them financially. The message that
the system is sending is that if children have medical care,
then parents do not also need it. She lives in assisted housing
that charges her rent based on her sons' "income"
through SSI, despite the fact that she then cannot afford
food, and - being the sole caretaker for these two children
- she is not able to seek outside employment.
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Another
women we spoke with in the same housing development receives
medical coverage through her employment, but her husband and
son are not eligible. Her husband is disabled and her son has
juvenile diabetes, and both have continuously denied the medical
assistance and ongoing care that they desperately need. These
two families have experienced different tragedies due to the
health care system here in the U.S., but both stories show that
this "system" is systematically denying health care
to many of our citizens. |
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Our
own Gael Abary, member of PPEHRC, has been organizing an Art
Auction to benefit the Poor People's Campaign. The auction
has been previewing since August 3rd, and the marchers today
had an opportunity to see the art that has been sent in from
around the country. Tara Colon said, "It was breathtaking.
If you get the opportunity to go, go!" The silent auction
is to be held Thursday night from 6 to 9pm. Click here for
details.
additional
updates
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La
Marcha Por Nuestras Vidas