Pennsylvanians Organising for Healthcare Not Warfare
Progressive Democrats of America is bringing national speakers and organisers to events in three Pennsylvania cities as part of its "Healthcare Not Warfare" campaign, which aims to protect Medicare and Social Security, bring the troops home from foreign wars, and create single-payer health coverage.
“Pennsylvanians may yet lead this country toward a civilised health coverage solution,” said PDA national director Tim Carpenter. “By working for healthcare and not warfare, we hope to help people understand that Americans could have the world’s best healthcare free of charge for everyone, and for a fraction of what we spend each year on wars opposed by a majority of the public.”
Events are scheduled in Philadelphia on January 28, Gettysburg on January 29, and in Pittsburgh on January 30. All open to the media and all open to the public. Speakers include:
Congressman Mike Doyle, representing district 14 in Allegheny County
Donna Smith, co-chair of Healthcare NOT Warfare campaign, California Nurses Union
Tim Carpenter, national director, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA)
Chuck Pennacchio, Ph.D, executive director of Health Care for All Pennsylvania
Gwendolyn Snyder, director of Philadelphia Jobs with Justice
Bill Deckhart, coordinator of Coalition for Peace Action
Molly Rush, co-founder of Thomas Merton Center
Kathy Black, co-convenor of USLAW
Alice Hoffman from Social Security Works
Kevin Hefty, vice president for long-term care of SEIU Healthcare PA
Neal Bisno, president of SEIU Healthcare PA
John Ziegler, executive board member of SEIU Healthcare PA
Jo Schlesinger, coordinator, Coalition for Peace Action
Philadelphia, January 28, 2011
6 PM – 9 PM
William Way Community Center
1315 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Gettysburg, January 29, 2011
11:30 AM
Appalachian Brewing Company (ABC) Brewpub
401 Buford Avenue
(Route 30, 2 “blocks” from Valentine Hall)
Gettysburg, PA 17325
1 PM – 3 PM
Lutheran Theological Seminary
61 Seminary Ridge
Valentine Hall, Rm. 206
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Pittsburgh, January 30, 2011
11 AM – 12 PM
Sababa Grill
2121 Murray Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA
1 PM – 4 PM
Church of the Redeemer
5700 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Progressive Democrats of America was founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and our country. We seek to build a party and government controlled by citizens, not corporate elites–with policies that serve the broad public interest, not just private interests. PDA is a grassroots PAC operating inside the Democratic Party, and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our inside/outside strategy is guided by the belief that a lasting majority will require a revitalised Democratic Party built on firm progressive principles.
For over two decades, the party declined as its leadership listened more to the voices of corporations than those of Americans. PDA strives to rebuild the Democratic Party from the bottom up–from every congressional district to statewide party structures to the corridors of power in Washington, where we work arm in arm with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. PDA and its allies have shaken up the political status quo–on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Medicare for all, voter rights, accountability, and economic and environmental justice.