For Immediate Release

April 22, 2009

For more information contact:

Russell Mokhiber at 202.468.8868.
Single Payer Action at singlepayeraction.org

Seattle Belly Dancers to Protest for Single Payer

Outside Office of Senator Patty Murray

On Monday, April 27, 2009 at 12 noon, a group of Seattle belly dancers and their supporters will be holding a protest outside the Seattle office of Senator Patty Murray (2988 Jackson Federal Building, 915 2nd Avenue, Seattle, Washington)

The belly dancers are calling the demonstration “Shake It Up for Single Payer.”

Shake it Up for Single Payer is being sponsored by Single Payer Action, a newly formed non-profit that is organizing protests at Congressional offices around the country.

Single Payer Action has posted a belly dancers for single payer flyer on its web site and is encouraging all single payer advocates to print it out and plaster it around their neighborhoods.

Murray is opposed to a single payer health insurance system.

“I read about a group of West Virginia belly dancers who organized a protest for single payer health care, and I was inspired to follow their example,” said Carolyn Stirling, one of the belly dancers who will lead the protest.  “I am excited that we can use our talents to draw attention to this important human rights issue.”

“I believe that medical care should be based on need, not on ability to pay,” Stirling said.  “As long as greedy corporations are making decisions about our health care, people will continue to suffer and die needlessly.  There is no need for us to reinvent the wheel – single payer systems have been proven to work in Canada and Australia.”

“We already have a health system for seniors – Medicare – that is efficient, comprehensive and delivers good care.” said Sally Soriano, one of the organizers of the protest. “How is it that Congress can provide itself with the best quality health care and not address the health care crisis that affects the rest of us?”

Stirling is calling on all Seattle area belly dancers to join in on the action on April 27.

“According to an Institute of Medicine report, more than 22,000 Americans die every year from lack of health insurance,” said Russell Mokhiber of Single Payer Action. “More than 14,000 Americans are thrown off the insurance rolls every day. More than half of all personal bankruptcies are triggered by medical bills. A single payer system would cost less, cover everyone, and no one would die from lack of health insurance — because everyone would have health insurance. Senator Murray won’t listen to her constituents when they call, write or visit, so, we decided to take it to the streets.”