Seven Arrested at Cigna Sit-In

By aaroncynic in News on Oct 9, 2009 2:20PM

As we listed in yesterday's "Extra Extra," seven protesters were arrested yesterday in the sales office of Cigna Insurance at 525 W Monroe. Participants of a nationwide campaign for single-payer health care called Patients Not Profits formed a small picket line outside of the office. Seven picketers then entered the building and demanded to speak with Cigna's CEO. When denied, they sat down in the lobby and chanted “patients not profits” and "Cigna is the real death panel" until they were escorted out by police.

Marilena Marchetti, one of the arrested, said via press release, “hundreds of people die each day because insurance companies deny them lifesaving care that they need.” The protest was organized locally by the Chicago Single Payer Action Network. Similar protest actions are planned to take place on October 15th in cities around the country. The arrested are charged with criminal trespass.