Pictured Above: AFSCME (American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees) President Gerald McEntee addresses a massive rally held yesterday in Washington that was aimed at confronting big insurance executives and demanding they stop obstructing National Health Care Reform. 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Thousands of Union Members, community activists, religious leaders and others confronted Big Insurance during a major rally held in Washington, D.C., yesterday - demanding insurance companies stop plotting to kill Health Care Reform even as Congress debates bills to reform the Nation's broken Health Care System.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka laid it on the line during the rally, telling the crowd: "The insurance companies won't stop unless we stop them and we do that by passing Health Care Reform Legislation.  So today we're here to put the insurance companies on notice: We will not allow you and your lobbyists to bully Congress into not acting.  Not on Health Care or any of the issues important to America's Working Families."

The boisterous, energetic and diverse crowd was so large that it completely encircled the block-long Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington where the front group for the Nation's biggest insurance companies - the America's Health Insurance Plans - was holding meetings. 

Health Care for America NOW sponsored the rally and march and those who took part, beginning at the National AFL-CIO and AFSCME buildings and DuPont Circle, rallied to the sounds of beating drums while shouting: "Blocking Health Care is a Crime!" and "Health Care Can't Wait!"

The crowd placed a crime scene tape around the hotel and several leaders and victims of Health Insurance Abuse delivered a "warrant" to the front of the hotel calling for the arrest of the insurance company executives.

During the rally, a variety of workers repeatedly expressed how they struggle to afford Health Insurance - an ever-growing expense that is eating away at their ability to pay a mortgage or send children to college.

Nicole Varma of Arlington, Virginia, who has no Health Care Insurance because she is unemployed, said: "I'm unable to get my medications because I can't afford them.  We need to send a message to the insurance companies that they definitely need to listen to the people.  We don't want insurance abuses.  We want 'real' Health Care reform.

George Estright, a member of AFSCME Local 2162 who traveled from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, added: "We support Health Care Reform to control insurance company profits.  It's not right for Working Americans to pay for two-hundred-percent profits for insurance companies.  We need something that is fair and equitable."

Marcus Grimes, a former English teacher from Virginia, told those attending the rally that he'd lost his sight because he didn't have health insurance to cover a $3,000 operation he needed.

"Health Care is the issue of this generation.  This is our time.  We ask you insurance companies. We ask you senators.  We ask your representatives.  What side of history do you want to be on? We should no more people dying.  We stand as one. We walk softly, but we carry a big stick," Grimes said.

A number of National Labor Leaders also addressed the rally, including AFSCME (American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees) President Gerald McEntee and AFT (American Federation of Teachers) President Randi Weingarten.

Big Insurance "is devastating our families and they've been getting away with it for years. We've had enough," McEntee said.  "Listen up Congress - this is a life and death battle with the insurance companies.  I'm here to tell everyone that justice will prevail."

Said Weingarten: "Our Health Care System exists to insure people who need it, not to make profits for insurance companies. That's why we need 'real' Health Care Reform."