October 7, 2009 PHILADELPHIA, PA:
All five health care activists arrested for civil disobedience yesterday outside CIGNA headquarters have been charged and released.

The five were charged with Misdemeanor Level 2, conspiracy and failure to disperse. Jeff Garis, of PennAction reported that Ray Torres, from Germantown, PA, and Michael Ladson, from Radnor, PA were charged and released at 1:30AM. At 2:10AM, Joan Kosloff, from Philadelphia PA, was also charged and released. Marc Stier (PA Director, HCAN) and Dennis Short (SEIU), both from Philadelphia, were charged and released at 5AM.

Joan Kosloff had been transferred to Philadelphia Police Headquarters at 8th & Race Streets and was processed there. She was contacted at her home at 3:41AM. She said she is "tired! I’m fine, and glad to be home."

Michael Ladson, of Radnor, PA, is scheduled for a 9:00 AM hearing today, Wednesday, October 7th, at 3300 Henry Avenue in Philadelphia. He was advised that his case is being handled through the juvenile court system, which he was told will be a faster process than going through the adult courts. Jeff Garis, of PennAction and several fellow health care reform supporters are expected to attend this hearing in the morning.

Legal counsel is being secured through HCAN, USACTION and their coalition of labor and progressive groups.

These five health care activists, along with 100 supporters, held a rally outside the Philadelphia headquarters of health care insurance company, CIGNA, yesterday. These five spoke out at the rally about their decision to blockade the double revolving doors to CIGNA’s offices. They each shared personal stories and pictures of loved ones’ illnesses and, in three cases, the deaths of family members due to insensitive insurance companies’ denial of coverage. They spoke of the insurance companies’ greed as the reason for these denials. A few detailed stories of these firms’ intentional misrepresentation, lost files and of medically-inappropriate tests that defy sound, normal medical practices.

Stacie Ritter, of Manheim, PA, whose twin daughters have been denied vital care by CIGNA, also spoke. She chose not to be arrested.

Following the speeches, the five people participating in the blockade walked over and sat down in front of the two revolving doors that lead into CIGNA’s wing of a high-rise office building at 1601 Chestnut Street. The rest of the crowd of supporters cheered them on, continuing to chant, as police gave them four separate orders to disperse or risk arrest. Arrests began at 12:15. As the last of the protesters were loaded into the police vehicles, the crowd chanted, "We’ll be back, we’ll be back!”

Video of Philadelphia Health Care Activists rally and arrests, courtesy DailyKos Blogger, revelwoodie,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI56EMceY50
Time: 9:57

Detail of video:
Speakers: Marc Stier (PA Director, HCAN), Stacie Ritter (mother of leukemia-afflicted twins denied insurance coverage by CIGNA), Dennis Short (SEIU)

At 6:02, Stier, Short, Ladson, Kosloff, Torres are seen sitting on the ground, blocking access to CIGNA HQ.

At 6:11, Marc Stier is the first to be arrested, then Dennis Short, then Ray Torres, Michael Ladson and Joan Kosloff .

At 9:02, Jeff Garis (Penn Action) reads the list of arrestees. A Philadelphia Police Civil Affairs videographer is seen in the rear.

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