Dangerous OFA Townhall Healthcare Meeting

Exclusive: A healthcare "reform" rally on Chicago's north side today put more than 100 people in danger. (Exclusive video below.) The event, sponsored by Organizing for America (OFA) and attended by top local Democrats such as Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Cong. Jan Schakowsky, State Sen. Heather Steans and State Rep. Greg Harris, was held at the Holiday Club, a bar at 4000 N. Sheridan Road. The front bar of the Holiday Club has a legal fire code capacity of 87, but the room was so tightly packed that people could hardly shove past each other to gobble up the free cheese and chips. That 87-person capacity is plainly posted over the bar as required by law, yet neither Holiday Club personnel nor OFA staff made any attempt to keep the crowd size within legal limits. (This is reminiscent of a rally held by 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore in December, 2006. He bragged about have a "standing room only" crowd, a clear violation of fire code.) Shoulder to shoulder inside the Holiday Club, it was difficult for people to move. Chicago News Bench heard a number of people in attendance express concern about the safety of the room. Finally, someone called 911 (yes, it was I) and let the authorities know about the over-capacity crowd size. A police officer arrived, took one look through the door, and called for a supervisor. When the officer's supervisor came (a sergeant), Holiday Club management and OFA staff were told that many of the people would have to leave. Governor Pat Quinn and Rep. Jan Schakowsky were among those who left the bar. (Also See: Exclusive Video: Schakowsky Denies Lesbian Affair.) Conservative Hats & Shirts Leave a Comment - Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Visit us on Twitter!