Coal and cookies: Protesters deliver healthcare message to Frelinghuysen’s office in Morristown

Christine Clark of Lake Hopatcong speaks at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Christine Clark of Lake Hopatcong speaks at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
2
NJ 11th for Change protest outside office of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
NJ 11th for Change protest outside office of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier

By Bill Lescohier

About 30 demonstrators delivered paper bags with lumps of coal to Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen’s Morristown office on Friday — along with a plateful of cookies,  just “to let the staff know it was nothing personal,” said Thomas Hilliard of NJ 11th for Change.

The group marched from Starbucks to Frelinghuysen’s office to demand the 12-term congressman oppose repeal of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare–or at least have a workable plan to replace it.

Hilliard said the paper bags symbolized the GOP’s lack of any such plan.

Slideshow photos by Bill Lescohier. For captions, hover over image.

NJ 11th for Change protest outside office of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Paper bags with lumps of coal for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Christine Clark of Lake Hopatcong speaks at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Demonstrators gather for NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
March to Rep. Frelinghuysen's office in NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Liz Lynch of Montclair at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Organizers of NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Debra Caplan and Marion Jacobson, organizers of NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Obamacare 'replacement package' for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Planning NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Preparing for NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
NJ 11th for Change protest at Rep. Frelinghuysen's office, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
NJ 11th for Change protest outside Morristown office of Rep. Rodney Freinghuysen, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
dsc_0120
dsc_0127
christine-clark-lake-hopatcong
dsc_0125
march-to-frelinghuysens-office
liz-lynch-montclair
dsc_0114
coordinators-debra-caplan-marion-jacobson
aca-replacement-package
dsc_0113
dsc_0117
dsc_0128
dsc_0123
PlayPause
previous arrow
next arrow
 
Shadow
Obamacare 'replacement package' for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Obamacare ‘replacement package’ for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier

The effort got a shoutout from Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.

But Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.), the new chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, was not present to accept the gift bags.

His district liaison, Aura Dunn, told the demonstrators she did not know the congressman’s position on the Affordable Care Act, and everyone would find out when he votes on it.

Chris Clark and Liz Lynch spoke of the difference Obamacare had made for their families, which otherwise lacked adequate health insurance options.

The grassroots NJ 11th for Change group formed to remind the Harding Republican that “he works for the people of the 11th District of New Jersey, not Donald Trump or the Koch brothers,”  Hilliard said.

Kevin Coughlin contributed to this report.

 

Christine Clark of Lake Hopatcong speaks at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Christine Clark of Lake Hopatcong speaks at NJ 11th for Change protest, Jan. 13 2017. Photo by Bill Lescohier

2 COMMENTS

  1. His district liaison doesn’t know his position on the ACA? Really? What the hell kind of office is he running? Lord Rodney needs to get his comeuppance once and for all

  2. I’m a member of NJ 11th for Change and was deeply disappointed by Rodney Frelinghuysen’s vote in the House on Friday to support Senate actions to begin repeal of the ACA. It is time for Congressman Frelinghuysen to start listening to his constituents, whom he is supposed to represent in D.C.

LEAVE A REPLY