Eight protesters arrested during sit-in at closed Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
Eight individuals were arrested on Monday morning following a sit-in at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, organized in response to the facility’s closure by its for-profit owner, Prospect Medical Holdings. The protest was spearheaded by Put People First PA!, an advocacy group focused on promoting Medicaid access and ensuring the availability of hospital services in the region.
Located in Upland, Pennsylvania, Crozer-Chester Medical Center was recognized as one of the area’s busiest hospitals, featuring a level II trauma center and a 24/7 mental health crisis center. However, the hospital was shuttered this spring amidst a bankruptcy proceeding, raising significant concerns over healthcare access in Delaware County. The sit-in aimed to highlight the urgent need for these essential services, particularly in a community reliant on the facility for medical care.
The Upland Police reported that the group was asked to disperse from a professional office building within the Crozer complex, which remains operational for limited appointments. Due to their refusal to leave, the protesters were charged with defiant trespassing, prompting their arrests.
Among the messages conveyed through banners were calls for local and state officials to exercise their eminent domain powers to reclaim control of the hospital. Slogans such as “Take back our hospitals!” and “People over profits!” were prominently displayed, underscoring the demonstrators’ demand for community-led healthcare solutions.
Accompanying Put People First PA! were representatives from other advocacy organizations, including the National Union of the Homeless and the Crozer-Chester Nurses Association, indicating a broad coalition united in this healthcare struggle. This demonstration was part of a larger event organized by the Nonviolent Medicaid Army, which aimed to galvanize support for Medicaid and raise awareness regarding the healthcare needs of low-income individuals and those with disabilities. Coordinated rallies were also held over the preceding weekend in Western and Central Pennsylvania.
The closure of Crozer-Chester and its sister facility, Taylor Hospital, was the result of unsuccessful efforts by state authorities to identify a new operator capable of restoring the health system to nonprofit status. Recently, local healthcare executives announced plans to acquire the Taylor facility for million, as revealed in documents submitted in Prospect Medical’s bankruptcy proceedings. This development has prompted ongoing discussions regarding the future of healthcare access in Delaware County and the potential implications for the community moving forward.
Media News Source
