Anchorage Residents Rally for Health Care Heroes
Pictures from today's rally, held on the corner of Tudor and Elmore roads, were provided to The Blue Alaskan by the rally's organizers.
A rally organized by the Facebook group "Anchorage Action" was held earlier this evening. The rally sought to show appreciation for Anchorage's demoralized Healthcare Heroes at a time when area hospitals are dealing with a flood of COVID-19 patients and as Alaska's largest hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center, announced it was rationing care to patients.
Pictures from today's rally, held on the corner of Tudor and Elmore roads, were provided to The Blue Alaskan by the rally's organizers. The rally was attended by Anchorage Assembly members Forrest Dunbar and John Weddleton. Former Anchorage mayoral candidate George Martinez is also said to have been in attendance.
Attendees held signs thanking Anchorage's Healthcare Heroes for continuing to take care of patients during trying times. Some of the signs bore the hashtags #MaskUp and #HealthcareHeroes.
Dr. Leslie Gonsette spoke at today's rally in support of healthcare workers and told attendees that the only FDA-approved method of protecting against the coronavirus was getting vaccinated. As Dr. Gonsette spoke, cars passing by the event honked their horns in support.
"We're always going to be here for you no matter what, whether you're vaccinated or not," Dr. Gonsette said, sending a reassuring message to the public that healthcare workers will continue to provide care for their patients regardless of their vaccination status.
Today's rally was a stark contrast to a morning event organized by Eagle River Assembly Gollum and "Save Anchorage" member Jamie Allard, who with Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson's approval, held an unmasked potential superspreader "listening event" in the Assembly Chambers for individuals who claim they have been or will be fired from their jobs for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium has said that its staffing shortages are not due to workers leaving over vaccine policies and Providence Alaska Medical Center has stated the same.
