Demonstrators on both sides of health-care debate rally Thursday in Bellevue

Published 7:19 pm Thursday, July 23, 2009

Demonstrators squared off on the health-care issue Thursday afternoon in Bellevue as groups gathered on 116th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Eighth Street.

The crowd, approximately 60 in all, carried signs, waved posters and some even dressed in health-care garb to drive home their point.

The groups were divided roughly evenly along 116th Avenue Northeast, with one calling for health-care reform that would include a public option, and the other opposing a government-run plan.

Public-option supporters rallied on the west side of the road while opponents of such a plan assembled on the east side. A few members of the two groups came together at one point for a heated discussion (photo above).

Photos by Joshua Adam Hicks