Healthcare workers rally for coverage after federal cuts

Amid government shutdown, activists protest ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ funding slashes.

- BY CERYS DAVIES

HEALTHCARE workers attend St. John's Community Health town hall with California officials, patients and community groups on Thursday in Los Angeles.

(JASON ARMOND Los Angeles Times)

More than a thousand chanting healthcare workers, activists and local officials filled the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday afternoon to protest pending trillion-dollar healthcare cuts contained in Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill.”

“Healthcare right now in America is bad,” said Romond Phillips, a mobile clinic driver, who attended the rally. “I'm out on the front lines, so I see the need for it.”

David Rolas, a community advocate from South L.A., came out to the rally to show his support. He says growing up, he remembers how hard it was to get access to healthcare and how many people died because of it. He was diagnosed with diabetes over 20 years ago, and today, he gets healthcare through Covered California.

“It’s helped me get the medicine I need, like my insulin,” said Rolas. “As I get older, I want to make sure I’m around for my kids. But my insulin isn’t cheap, so thankfully, I have affordable healthcare right now, but I will be affected by these changes.”