200 turn out for health care rally at Missouri Capitol

By The Associated Press

September 2, 2009 | 4:16 p.m. CDT

VIDEO: Hundreds of people from every district around Missouri gathered at the steps of the Capitol in Jefferson City on Wednesday. Numerous speakers talked to the crowd such as State Rep. Rebecca McClanahan from Kirksville, and Melanie Edwards, who had a personal experience with illness and the health care system. The rally began with singing and ended with prayer before everybody boarded buses to go back to homes around the state. ¦ By Chelsea Sektnan, with stills by Jason Lenhart

JEFFERSON CITY — About 200 people turned out at the Missouri Capitol for a rally in support of a federal health care overhaul.

Participants at Tuesday's event chanted that health care is a right, not a privilege, and that no one should be left without health insurance. Featured speakers included several past and present Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Paul LeVota of Indepedence.

The event was sponsored by Mexico, Mo.,-based Grass Roots Organizing and the national advocacy group Health Care for America Now.