Rally, March Scheduled to Protest Huron Hospital Closing Today

Local grassroots organizations and politicians have planned a march and rally this morning to oppose Cleveland Clinic's decision to close . 

The Clinic that due to financial constraints, a declining population and the cost it takes to maintain an aging facility, the hospital in East Cleveland would close within 90 days. 

Fight for a Fair Economy, which describes itself as a "collaboration of efforts between SEIU (Service Employees International Union), labor allies, community partners and grassroots supporters," organized the march, which will commence at Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road at 10 a.m. today and end near Euclid and 96th Street, where several Cleveland Clinic buildings are located. 

After the march, a rally will start, said Wes McEnany, spokesperson for the Fight for a Fair Economy. The events are being co-sponsored by Black on Black Crime, he said, which is a grassroots organization in East Cleveland working to prevent crime in Greater Cleveland.

City council members from East Cleveland and Cleveland will speak, and county council members, including Julian Rogers who represents Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland, will also address the crowd.

The organization had about 40 people canvassing Thursday encouraging people from East Cleveland and surrounding areas such as Cleveland Heights to attend the march and rally. They hope that at least more than 100 people attend, he said. Some employees and patients of Huron said they will be there.  

McEnany said the organization and others involved want to start the conversation that was never offered by Cleveland Clinic before it decided to close the facility in East Cleveland. 

"Our big thing is just letting Cleveland Clinic know that we exist in the community, and we want to open the pathways of dialogue," he said. "Just because you want to go out and announce the 90 day closing without consulting us doesn’t mean that you won't hear us."

McEnany is concerned about what the hospital's closing will do to an already battered community. East Cleveland in the past 10 years, according to the 2010 Census. 

"Now what are the people of East Cleveland supposed to do?" he said. "Each community hospital is a lifeblood for the community, especially communities like East Cleveland that (have been hurting) for awhile."

Calls made to Huron Hospital's communications line were not immediately returned. You can read the information on Huron's site that explains the reasons the Clinic is closing the facility.