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The Daily Tar Heel

Letter: ​Die-in scheduled for Sen. Burr Duke visit

TO THE EDITOR:

Sen. Richard Burr is scheduled to speak at Duke University on Friday, March 24, the day after Congress will vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Protecting Progress in Durham will respond to the ACA vote with a press conference at 10 a.m. on Friday featuring Triangle residents who have been impacted by the Affordable Care Act.

Following the news conference, the group will hold a mass “die-in” at 11 a.m. to illustrate the consequences of hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians losing health insurance. Protecting Progress in Durham is a grassroots group that recently rallied over 200 concerned citizens to a mock town hall for North Carolina’s senators.

“Senator Burr has repeatedly voted to repeal Obamacare, but after seven years, he and his fellow Republicans have no serious plan to replace it,” said Kelly Garvy, one of the organizers of the demonstration. “Instead, they’ve proposed a massive tax cut for the rich that would lead to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians losing their health insurance. The statements of his constituents and our die-in will show Senator Burr that repealing Obamacare would have very real and dangerous impacts on people in Durham and North Carolina as a whole.”

WHAT: Reaction to ACA repeal and “die-in” targeting Sen. Richard Burr

WHO: Protecting Progress in Durham, a grassroots organization

WHEN: Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Corner of Cameron Drive and Science Drive in Durham

According to the Congressional Budget Office, Donald Trump’s health care proposal would cause 24 million people to lose health insurance by 2026. Most of the effects would be immediate, with more than 14 million losing insurance in 2018.

Hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Even with this increased coverage, North Carolina continues to have the fifth-highest uninsured rate in the nation. Those who will be most affected by the proposed repeal want Sen. Burr to hear their concerns and why he should avoid moving our state backward on health care.

“Unlike other Republican senators, Sen. Burr has not stated his position on Trumpcare,” added Garvy. “It’s time for Senator Burr to hold a town hall meeting and hear our concerns, and speak out in favor of protecting health care for seniors and others who stand to lose from Trumpcare.”

For more information, contact:

Alex Rosen, 919-321-1034

alex@freestyletech.com

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