FORT MYERS, Fl. — The third annual Southwest Florida Women's March for equality kicks off Saturday morning.
The local march is part of the state and national marches that take place every year in January.
This year, due to rising COVID-19 cases and safety concerns stemming from the riots in Washington, D.C., the event will be virtual.
Despite the change, organizers are still looking forward to raising awareness about community issues including affordable healthcare.
"We need to keep talking about health care until we get healthcare," says Susan McGuire, Communications Coordinator for SWFL Women's March.
Mcguire says the current system is flawed. The majority of Americans who are employed as teachers or accountants get a healthcare plan through their employer. But this system often leaves small business owners to fend for themselves.
McGuire says this causes her life-partner, who owns a small business, to deal with high premiums and co-pays.
"His premiums on healthcare.gov for just ordinary Florida Blue is $1,950 a month! A month! Yet, he still has deductibles and he still has co-pays. This is not even affordable healthcare," says McGuire.
So tomorrow, she will march, virtually of course. McGuire believes our country can take from its experience with Covid-19 to make healthcare affordable for all people, from babies to older adults.
"If we can give taxpayer-funded COVID immunizations why can't we give taxpayer-funded childhood immunizations? We have shown that we do have the power to do these things. We just lack the political will," says McGuire.
The Women's March begins at 10 am and ends at noon. You can sign up here to get free access to the event.
