Virginia Organizing Project Executive Director Arrested at Anthem for Asking About Insurance Rates

When Anthem raised the rates on the Virginia Organizing Project by 14% this year, VOP Executive Director and board members went to the company headquarters to ask why. Anthem said they were trespassing and arrested VOP Director Joe Szakos. He will stand trial in Henrico County Virginia on September 22, 2009

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• insurance greed
• health care reform
• Anthem
• Anthem arrest
• public option
• Virginia health care
• Wellpoint
• Blue Cross
• insurance reform
• Richmond

[alphasimian]

We need to de-throne these robber-barons TODAY.

This is not capitalism; this is just thuggery.

[Neoatg]

They must be paying some mighty big bribes. I wouldn't think that normally but 6+ cops for clearly unarmed tresspassers. Something off.

[Redeyeforadeadguy]

i felt hatred for those officers

[gsix320]

Say what you want about Anthem and I will probably agree with you; however do not criticize Henrico Police for upholding justice. The issue is simple...he was asked to leave and refused. If Henrico just stands by and says they need to work it out, the situation goes nowhere. He went there with the intent of causing this disturbance...why do you think the video camera was rolling?

[pennilesscripple]

'we're sorry sir, but you seem to be under the rather hilarious delusion that you are not living in a police state. now, do i have to taser you to convince you?'

[normy11yt]

AIG is an insurance company. They are the ones who insured the crappy derivatives. That is why they were the first one in danger of collapsing.

[normy11yt]

Fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

I hate Insurance Companies as much as the next guy, Anthem's behavior is inhuman, but everyone on all sides stop throwing "Fascism' around when it doesn't apply. The last thing we need is to so distort the definition that when real fascism shows up nobody recognizes it as such.

[normy11yt]

I really wish that those outside America would stop making generalizations about Americans based on gov't policy. The fact is that most Americans, myself included, SUPPORT a public option, as does a majority in government. 4 people using archaic rules are stopping us. Would you like me to start saying "you brits" because of everything that Parliament does, or that Gordon Brown says? The America of Fox News is a myth trying to become a reality. Shame on you for buying into Murdoch's America.

[normy11yt]

@aclassicalliberal NOBODY has ever died from not having insurance? Seriously? Care to back up such an absolute claim with a citable source?

[bctzwy]

First of all VOP is a social justice organization. Talking points memo did a story where Anthem sent VOP, their customer, a letter asking to write Congress to oppose health care reforms. At the same time raising their rates 14.1 % with no explanation as to why or what formula they came up with to raise these rates. VOP was not getting any answers through more polite avenues, thus the protest. This shows the current insurance industry is not answerable to anyone Not even their own customers.

[berrabro]

I love people thumbs downing this comment as if any of that was actually untrue. You Americas are so goddamned indoctrinated into the idea that every other society is inferior, and our healthcare systems are crazy and don't work.