Chicago, Illinois: On March 8, 2021 a group of IL-5 residents launched a campaign called “Medicare4Mike” to call on Representative Mike Quigley to support Medicare for All. Residents gathered outside of Rep. Quigley’s office every weekday for three weeks, and Representative Quigley became the 114th co-sponsor of Medicare for All on March 24, 2021. Quigley has represented Chicago’s northside for over a decade, and this is his first time signing on to such legislation.
The “Medicare4Mike” campaign included themed demonstrations outside of the Congressman’s office such as “Halloween in March: Imagine a World Without Universal Healthcare” and “Hot Dog Day” to allude to the city’s love for hot dogs. Constituents wore hot dog costumes and tallied the amount of honks received in support of universal healthcare by drivers passing by in the morning.
Danaka Katovich, a constituent of Quigley’s who is involved in the campaign said, “We are all thrilled that Representative Quigley decided to hear us out, and sign on to Medicare For All. Our messaging was consistent. A majority of Americans support Medicare For All. At the beginning of the pandemic, millions of people were exposed to the shortcomings of linking insurance with employment. Sustained advocacy to your representatives can work.”
Grace Siegelman, another resident of Quigley’s said “We didn’t think Congressman Quigley would sign on that fast. We had our campaign planned to go through the entire summer. It was a pleasant surprise, and I hope other people around the country can be inspired by this. I hope other Congresspeople join the fight to ensure that all people can access healthcare without worrying about cost.”
The demonstrations went from 8AM-9AM for the first week, and then 9AM-10AM for the next two weeks. All demonstrations occurred outside of the Congressman’s office in the Lakeview neighborhood. The campaign intends on having a celebration rally on Monday, March 29 at 9AM outside of the Lakeview office.