Protesters Kick Off Inauguration Week With “Our First Stand” Rallies To Save Healthcare

More Than 50 Events Were Planned Across The Country

Tens of thousands turned out at more than 50 rallies across the nation Sunday to call on President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress to protect the nation’s healthcare safety net, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid — as well as Planned Parenthood. 

The rallies were organized by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party. Sanders and Schumer attended a Michigan rally that had to be moved to a different venue due to the large response. Watch it above. 

“At a time when the United States remains the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all as a right, the Republicans want to throw nearly 30 million people off of health insurance, make massive cuts to Medicaid and defund Planned Parenthood,” Sanders wrote on his website. “At the same time, in the midst of a grotesque and growing level of income and wealth inequality, they want obscene tax breaks for the top one-tenth of 1 percent.

“On Sunday, January 15, Democratic members of Congress, trade unions, senior groups, health care activists and all those who believe in economic and social justice are organizing a day of action to tell Republicans loudly and clearly: You are not going to get away with it.”

Scenes from a few of the rallies below.