Pennsylvania Ping!
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Posted on 12/19/2024 7:55:38 AM PST by lightman
A group of people protesting Luigi Mangione’s arrest in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthCare’s CEO gathered Thursday morning outside a Pennsylvania courthouse as the 26-year-old arrived to appear for two hearings.
The protesters stood on the sidewalk outside the Blair County Courthouse holding signs with messages like, “Murder for profit is terrorism” and “The one who’s responsible for the deaths of many is NOT Luigi Mangione.” Some signs also called Mangione a hero, according to footage from WGAL.
One protester voiced frustration to ABC News over an American insurance system that is “set up for profit over people’s health.”
“It’s unfortunate that this happened, and I’m not glorifying it in any way -- but it’s brought attention to the issue that affects all Americans,” said the woman, who identified herself only as “Natalie” to reporters.
“We feel his anger, his frustration,” said Andrea Aye, who traveled to the courthouse from northern Ohio, according to USA Today. “It has definitely woke people up. We hear him.”
New York City police said Mangione shot and killed UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, Dec. 4 outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan. Thompson was headed to a United Healthcare investors’ meeting at the hotel near Central Park.
Thompson’s killing sparked an outpouring of anger across the country from Americans who were denied coverage from their insurance providers, left in limbo as their doctors and insurers disagreed, and were ultimately stuck with overwhelming medical bills or without the care they say they needed.
Mangione arrived at the Blair County Courthouse at 7:45 a.m. Thursday for an 8:30 a.m. preliminary hearing on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police.
Altoona police filed the charges because of a gun and fake ID card they say Mangione had with him when officers arrested him at the local McDonald’s on Dec. 9 after an employee recognized him.
After his first hearing, an extradition hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on the charges Mangione is facing in New York, including first-degree murder as an act of terrorism, two counts of second-degree murder and seven weapons offenses.
Investigators believe Mangione, an Ivy League computer science grad from a prominent Maryland family, was motivated by anger toward the U.S. healthcare system. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying a handwritten letter that complained about corporate greed and called insurance companies “parasitic.”
Mangione repeatedly posted on social media about undergoing spinal surgery last year that eased his chronic back pain. On Reddit, he encouraged others struggling with chronic ailments to speak up for themselves.
“We live in a capitalist society,” Mangione wrote, according to The Associated Press. “I’ve found that the medical industry responds to these key words far more urgently than you describing unbearable pain and how it’s impacting your quality of life.”
News reports said Mangione was never a UnitedHealthCare client.
Pennsylvania Ping!
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I see they’re eating regularly
Sick.
Actually, it looks like health insurance is something they’re going to greatly need.
I can't imagine how anyone goes through life like that.
Both in their fourth trimesters, I see.
When are the babies due?
Indeed.
Very.
I’d say any day now.
😁
💯.
So is putting fake women in women’s sports.
Didn’t I see them at the “Confiscate Handguns” protest yesterday?
That poor sidewalk. Hope they used lots of rebar.
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