I’m a big fan of Jon Stewart.
Sure, he was incredible at the Daily Show- but he himself is pretty much awesome, but with less fanfare than Keanu Reeves. I’m a big fan of his work with animals, but today I’d like to talk about his campaign for healthcare for 9/11 first responders.
After 9/11, the first responders from FDNY, NYPD, EMS, Port Authority, et cetera have been suffering from various conditions- usually cancer- related to their work in the rubble of the World Trade Center. They’re all sick and dying because in an emergency situation, they stepped in to help. It would seem obvious that running into a pile of rubble and searching for survivors is the kind of work that would earn one healthcare, but that is decidedly not the case.
The gist of the story is, they’ve spent the last 18 years suffering while the US government drags its feet and debates over whether or not these people deserve to get the coverage they need. Stewart has been campaigning for them for years with some success- they’re currently covered through 2020. But that’s only a few months away, and the 9/11 first responders aren’t about to let Congress let their healthcare expire.
Below is the video of him addressing a nearly-empty room. It’s pretty heart-wrenching, but I encourage you to watch the whole thing.