Supporters, opponents of reform demonstrate to finish line in D.C.

March 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON

Thousands of disparate protesters from all walks of life descended on the U.S. Capitol Sunday for one last push on health care. It brought a day of contrasting bombast and belligerence.

The day began with a show of solidarity for black congressmen who on Saturday had been pelted with racial insults and spittle. Civil rights icon Rep John Lewis, D-Ga., walked triumphantly to the Capitol, holding hands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders en route to the vote. A trumpeter played the Civil Rights’ era song “We Shall Overcome.”

Competing demonstrators lined the driveway into the Capitol through which most House members arrived, shouting pro- and anti-health care slogans while inside, six Capitol Police officers subdued an unruly protester who had managed to make it to the House visitor’s gallery and screamed anti-health care invective. He was wrestled out.

“Things are colliding today,” said Maria Robalino, 35, of Washington, who was carrying a purple “Catholics for Healthcare Reform” sign.

For most of the day, the Tea party demonstrators had been the most vocal, chanting “We the people,” “No, no, no,” and “kill the bill.”

But as it became clear Democrats had won the votes of key anti-abortion lawmakers, the Tea Party protesters lost their enthusiasm, and their numbers shrank.

They were quickly replaced by those who had supported the health care overhaul as well as hundreds of demonstrators favoring immigration legislation.

Francine Towbridge of Gaithersburg, Md., carried a bouquet of red-white-and-blue balloons and a “Thank you Democrats” sign.

“I am passionate about the Democratic platform, and I wanted to thank Democrats for having the courage to do the right thing,” she said.

The turning point was the announcement by Rep. Bart Stupak, an anti-abortion Democrat from Michigan, that he would support the health care bill.

“They changed their vote,” grumbled Karyn Skaggs, 55, of Columbia, Md., about the anti-abortion lawmakers who are now backing the bill. “I’m upset because he was so against this thing...and for him to succumb to a promise that’ll never happen, it’s disappointing.”

There was no repeat of Saturday’s ugly incidents when some protesters screamed “kill the bill, nigger” at black congressmen, including Lewis and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., and used homophobic slurs against Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., one of Congress’s three openly gay members and a health care bill supporter.