LOS ANGELES – The public hearing on November 15 to close down the Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center’s trauma unit was met with protests and tough opposition from the local community. Approximately 1,000 people turned up to raise their voices loud and clear against Los Angeles County officials, and it seemed like both sides refused to listen to the other. The hearing was held across from the hospital at an auditorium in Willowbrook. The purpose of the hearing was to gauge the public opinion, and from all accounts, the supervisors at the hearing got more than they had bargained for.

A sign held by a protestor read "Don't disrespect or underestimate us," showing the perspective of the largely African-American audience gathered there. The protest was headed by Rep. Maxine Waters, flanked by Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn. They urged the five supervisors and top Health Services Department officials to reconsider their decision to shut down the trauma center since it would mean critically injured patients would have to travel longer to get treatment. Jackson delivered an emotional speech and said, “People are scared. There are car wrecks on the freeway — they're scared. Most of these folks don't have insurance — they're scared.”

The testimony of residents and others could be heard through loud speakers set up in the sidewalk outside the auditorium. At the hearing Waters told the board, “Don't ignore this. Don't marginalize this. We want our trauma center kept open!” She went on to accuse the officials of negotiating a deal with California Hospital Medical Center, which would handle King/Drew patients in the event of a shutdown.

The debate to close down the trauma unit has been raging for sometime now and Dr. Thomas Garthwaite, the county’s health director, has stressed that the step was necessary to ease the demands on the hospital staff. King/Drew hospital has suffered from lapses in patient care, but in the last year this neglect led to the death of five patients. The rally was attended by heavyweights like Maryum Ali, Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Yolanda King, daughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Angela Bassett.