Dozens of protestors showed up outside a Pennsylvania courthouse on Thursday 19 December in support of Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer, where he appeared for a hearing before being taken to New York City.
Some supporters showed up with signs that said ‘free Luigi’ while others came wearing hats usually worn by the Super Mario Bros. character.
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A couple showed up in Luigi hats
Two of the dozens of supporters appear in front of the Pennsylvania courthouse in support of Luigi Mangione wore caps typically worn by the Super Mario Bros. franchise character Luigi to reference support for the UnitedHealthcare accused killer with the same name.
They spoke about their support
“As far as I see it, Luigi killed one person, but health insurance companies destroy millions of lives every year,” a 34-year-old programmer wearing a Luigi hat, told The New York Post.
“Frankly, I’d have another CEO killer on the streets than another CEO,” he added.
Many held signs to express their anger
Next to the programmer was a person standing holding a sign that read “privatized healthcare is a crime against humanity!”
The pair are among many who came in support of Luigi Mangione after he was captured at a McDonald’s having been accused of gunning down the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
Some expressed disdain for private healthcare
Speaking their mind, the person holding the sign against privatized healthcare said, “At least a CEO that’s specifically making profit off of the wellbeing of other humans, where the only way they’re making money is by taking money by denying claims that they’re supposed to pay out.”
Despite the support they don’t condone the actions
Although many came in support of Mangione, stating their anger towards the entire private healthcare system in the US, they also expressed that they do not condone violence.
“I don’t believe that murder is OK. I do not condone violence,” one person clearly stated.
The issue is bigger than one crime
The protestor added, “I do not want to live in a society where it’s eye for an eye… but when there is no recourse, there is no viable alternative.”
It was a suggestion that the issue of privatized healthcare in the US is far too vast that resorting to violence is the only way to point it out.
Protestors highlighted the wider issue
One thing most supporters made sure to point out was that their disdain was more towards the healthcare system in the US than an accused killer.
Many also suggested that the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO was caused by years of institutional violence through private healthcare.
One supporter pointed this out
“The reason something so violent happened is because violence has been happening consistently from the for-profit medical system this whole time,” a protestor explained their stance on the situation.
They also added, “It’s just not in the open. It’s done through paperwork and denials.”
Many spoke up about their experiences with the system
Outside a Manhattan courthouse where another group of people gathered, one young man recalled his experience with the American healthcare insurance system.
“I’ve been personally affected by lack of health insurance coverage …. There are CEOs that cause that. But if one man decides to snap, he’s treated as a terrorist,” he said.
Another person doubled down on the point
With many shedding light on the healthcare system as the main issue, another person standing outside the Manhattan courthouse said, “While no one really supports murder, I think what compelled him to go to this extreme step is potentially very interesting and may be very relatable to people.”
Another person suggested, “If his actions start a wave of reformation in the healthcare industry that ultimately saves thousands of lives, then can you truly argue that he did the wrong thing?”
