Community Members in Republican-led Districts in Orange County protest proposed Medicaid Cuts
In early March, Republicans voted on a bill that would create cuts in Medi-Cal for 2/3 of California’s state population, who rely on the program for lifesaving care. This included Representative Young Kim, of CA District 40, which covers portions of Orange County and the Inland Empire. In response, a group of interfaith leaders and congregants in Orange County came together for a press conference at the Church of the Foothills in Santa Ana to decry these proposed cuts as a moral emergency.
With 162,000 local residents relying on Medi-Cal for life-saving care, clergy members and community members stood united in urging Representative Young Kim to reverse course and protect healthcare access. Speakers at the press conference emphasized the devastating consequences these cuts would have on children, seniors, veterans, and working families— and called on lawmakers to put people over politics.
The message was clear: slashing healthcare to fund tax breaks for the wealthy is immoral and unacceptable.
As Reverend Nathan Hill of the Church of the Foothills, Santa Ana stated,
“For us, as religious leaders, it is important that we find courage and stand up for the people around us who need this vital attention. So we’ll keep talking until the leaders of both parties listen to us and do the right thing.”
Then a month passed, and frustration mounted towards the office of Representative Kim, and their inaction to take tangible steps to protect Medicaid.
In response, a 1,000 person rally was held on April 23rd in front of Kim’s Anaheim office. That day, CLUE organizers and allied clergy joined to engage in a civil disobedience action. Twelve protesters were detained and ticketed by police for blocking the entryway to Rep. Kim’s district office, but the Representative did not come out of the office to speak with her constituents.
Kim has a choice to make: to listen to her constituents and the disabled community, or to side with right wing extremists who want to defund lifesaving Medicaid services. Medicaid is an essential, life-sustaining service, and cuts would be cruel and dangerous.
We say: Healthcare is a human right! Hands off Medi-Cal!
