Reverend William Barber Says Medicaid Cuts are “Retrogression”

July 15, 2025

Reverend William Barber is organizing Moral Monday protests in 11 Southern states against the recently passed healthcare legislation that cuts $17 million from Medicaid. The protests target local Senate offices in states where an estimated 1. 5 million people could lose healthcare coverage due to these cuts.

Who is affected

1.5 million people across 11 Southern states expected to lose healthcare
Southern states' residents, with specific numbers cited: Texas (300,000), Louisiana (291,000), Alabama (42,000), Arkansas (123,000), and North Carolina (307,000)
Black populations in the South, who represent the "highest percentage" being removed from Medicaid
Poor and low-wage workers, who make up 40% of the South's population

What action is being taken

Reverend William Barber is conducting Moral Monday protests in 11 Southern states targeting local U.S. Senate offices
Clergy and impacted people are marching with caskets representing those negatively affected by the law
Protests are occurring in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Tennessee

Why it matters

The "One Big Beautiful Bill" cuts $17 million from Medicaid nationally
The cuts will disproportionately affect Southern states, where poverty rates are already high (40%)
The legislation is expected to exacerbate poverty numbers across the nation
The cuts will impact healthcare access for vulnerable populations, particularly in the South

What's next

Moral Mondays will resume in Washington, D.C. in August
The protests will continue to focus on healthcare cuts and SNAP reductions in the South

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint