April 30th, 2013
Lanny Roy, President, A Community Voice protests Jindal Policies on Capitol Steps
Flanked by signs and posters with demands to Jindal to Expand Medicaid funding and Stop the Cuts-Save Jobs, Lanny Roy, Lake Charles resident and president of A Community Voice, spoke to a diverse crowd. At its height, nearly 1000 residents rallied on the steps of the state’s capitol. Mr. Roy, though fighting for his own life, with a condition brought on by working in chemical plants in Lake Charles, valiantly came to address the “Enough is Enough” rally.
Using a megaphone, while seated in a wheelchair, Mr. Roy addressed the crowd organized by Forward Louisiana. The new coalition is the most diverse of all to have protested on the capitol steps with member groups that range from community and labor organizations, to worker, disability, human rights and education health care advocates. Roy told the crowd that A Community Voice had found Gov. Jindal insensitive and unaccountable, when he failed to respond to repeated requests to discuss the issues.
Interrupted by applause, Mr. Roy stated “I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for the charity hospital system. The other hospitals don’t do what Charity does. Charity Hospitals are a Louisiana tradition that have lasted well over 200 years. We need to keep our traditions”.
Meanwhile, inside the State Capitol, a banner was dropped by Forward Louisiana member that demanded to the legislators, “Take the Medicaid Money” Shortly afterwards, a Senate Health Committee panel voted 4 – 3 to expand Medicaid in Louisiana. 
