Occupy Muncie leads with health care

Staff Report

MUNCIE, IN - Occupy Muncie is leading the state in providing health care to those in need on the verge of being evicted from the Delaware County Building Plaza. Dr. John Peterson made a house call to Occupy during Relaxation Sunday to help those with health concerns.

Chad Larimore got a checkup and some help with an undiagnosed concern affecting his speech and mobility. And others got referrals and advice on other health issues. Peterson talked about his days of protest and music and recommended protesters continue to resolve against government and banks.

The story came to mind of a moderate Republican president by the name of Dwight D. Eisenhower who warned the country about the military industral complex that controlled the country. Fifty years later, banks and government continue to separate society by imposing economic war on the middle class and impoverishing millions without jobs or health care.

The issue of health care was no more obvious than the story of Lisa Clark who has been fighting to get the city to change a protocol to send first responders to calls involving diabetic seizures. She was in dander of losing her house until an unknown inheritance came through. Clark gave a big hug to Kai Bennett, one of the original facilitators, when he told her that health care could be the major issue of a new Occupy Indiana group that intends to get the law changed to provide health care to all.

And that all started right here in Muncie with work by Occupy Muncie members to get Doc Peterson to care for people who need it the most. Music and art filled the air and windy day as Occupy Muncie spent much of its time on the sunny side of the county building.

Bennett mentioned the work on an Occupy Indiana group and the possible organization nationwide, whether to support change in government and banks or evolution to a new independent party. The movement also had to address the pending emergency of a possible decision to evict occupiers after a small fire last week.

The fire damaged a bench and apparently started in a bedroll, Occupy intends to stay at the county building but also could occupy nearby Riverbend Park or the Ball State University Quad to make a point that people not corporations or government should be in charge.

The local group also got some help from  Occupy Indianapolis that stands ready to resist any eviction. Greg Lambert talked about efforts to occupy the Statehouse, and encouraged Occupy Muncie to continue its action.

There also will be help from the Indiana group of the American Civil Liberties Union that knows as well as occupiers that federal courts have upheld protests on public property. Imagine a country where you cannot exercise your right to assembly, speech, religion, petition and those other constitutional rights.

Sam Harris, local farmer and businessman, also comes from the protests of the 1960s and talks about the separation of people based on billionaires making trillions and those without means.