Nonviolent Medicaid Army National Day of Action Highlights
From September 6 – 8th, Nonviolent Medicaid Army actions took place in 12 states, including 4 actions here in Pennsylvania to fight back against Medicaid Cuts and hospital closures. To see highlights from across the country visit the Nonviolent Medicaid Army Facebook page or Instagram.
Highlights from actions across Pennsylvania:
- In Southwest PA, members rallied outside of recently shuttered Heritage Valley Kennedy in McKees Rocks, PA. Click here for photos and a testimony from Rica.
- Northeast PA took action outside of Berwick Hospital, which closed permanently nearly three years ago, and marched to the site of the proposed Amazon Data Center. “We have not forgotten how this century-old community hospital was gutted and abruptly closed by healthcare profiteers. We reject a system abandons our community hospitals while giving millions in tax breaks to Amazon in order build labor-replacing, environmentally – devastating technology in our backyards.” Read more here.
- Following the action in Kittaning, leaders from Unite Armstrong and Put People First! PA made an extended #MedicaidMonday featuring stories and experiences from Armstrong County. Watch the reel here.
- In Southeast PA, Healthcare workers, local residents and community organizations rallied peacefully on September 8th at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, PA, calling on Delaware County Council to use its power of eminent domain to take Crozer-Chester back from Wall Street and reopen it as a public hospital, run by the workers and the community. Click here to see powerful photos from the action.
Fifty people, including former patients and workers, protested outside of the hospital, while eight people engaged in nonviolent civil disobedience, sitting along the side of the lobby while taking care to stay out of the way of foot traffic. The action also included a 30 ft long by 20 ft tall banner drop, visible from I-95! Click here to see excellent press coverage from a number of local outlets.
LAST CHANCE: MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY FINAL DEADLINE WED. 9/17
Don’t miss this exciting annual event! The Put People First! PA (PPF-PA) Membership Assembly is our largest yearly gathering, open to brand new folks and experienced members. Join us from 5 pm, Friday, October 17th, to 2 pm Sunday, October 19th, 2025 at a hotel & conference center in State College, PA. We’re coming together from across the state, the country and internationally to build community, celebrate the year and envision the years ahead.
The Membership Assembly will provide free of charge meals, snacks, childcare, transportation and housing, well as masks and COVID tests to take before and while gathering in person.
September Statewide Call: From Mobilization to Organization
Wednesday, Sept 17th, 7 – 8 pm
Every third Wednesday of the month from 7-8 pm ET, Put People First! PA, a statewide, member-led, staff-free organization holds our Statewide Membership Call. This call is for active members, mobilizers, and anyone who is interested in finding out more about our Healthcare is a Human Right campaign and getting involved!
This month’s call will focus on learning from and celebrating our participation in the National Day of Action for Medicaid with the Nonviolent Medicaid Army.
PA held actions in Allegheny, Armstrong, Columbia and Delaware Counties. We made the invisible visible, called for seizing hospitals closed by profiteers and re-opening them as public hospitals run by workers and communities, and called out the false solution of data centers which will raise the cost of living, push the power grid to brink while using up our water. We called out the ongoing and deepening attacks on Medicaid, which we have been fighting since the great Medicaid purge under Biden.
RSVP on Facebook here and use the link below to join:
Click here to join: https://zoom.us/j/5483957623
Or to call in, Dial: 646 558 8656 (US Toll)
Then enter Meeting ID: 548 395 7623
Every Monday we share our stories. What’s your healthcare story? What does Medicaid mean to you and your family? Movements begin with the telling of untold stories that’s why we’re asking you to share your experience with your health and healthcare system.
Whether you’re on or unfairly excluded from Medicaid, you have a story to share to build the movement for the human right to healthcare. See #medicaidmonday examples on the Nonviolent Medicaid Army facebook page here.
Sign up to share your story here: bit.ly/MedicaidMondaysForm
Upcoming Healthcare Rights Committee Meetings
Put People First! PA is organized into five regions: Southeast, Southwest, Central-Appalachia, South Central and Northeast. In each of these regions, members participate in twice a month meetings held by phone and online, organized around our healthcare struggles. If you’re new to Put People First! PA, attend a monthly Statewide Call or Saturday School or contact any of the members listed below to learn more.
Southeast PA Healthcare Rights Committee (Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties)
Next meeting: Wednesday, September 24th @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Contact: ppfpasepahrc@gmail.com
Southwest PA Healthcare Rights Committee (Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland, Greene, Fayette, Beaver and Butler counties)
Next meeting: Thursday, September 25th @ 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Contact: Barbara at bawhite2012@gmail.com or Rica at phillipsfrederica@gmail.com
Central-Appalachia PA Healthcare Rights Committee (Centre, Clearfield, Cambria, Blair, Somerset, Bedford, Huntingdon, Fulton, Mifflin, and Juniata counties)
Next meeting: Wednesday, September 17th @ 8 – 9 pm
Contact: Josh at joshua.rinaman@gmail.com
South Central PA Healthcare Rights Committee (Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties)
Next meeting: Monday, October 6th @ 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Contact: Jacob at jacob.butterly.pappc@gmail.com
Northeast PA Healthcare Rights Committee (Pike, Wayne, Susquehanna, Bradford, Sullivan, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Northumberland, Carbon and Schuylkill counties)
Next meeting: Monday, October 6th @ 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Contact: Rebecca at prittidayzee@gmail.com or Nijmie at nijmied@gmail.com
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