After health care vote, supporters rally in Anchorage to thank Murkowski

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From left, Emory Hazen, 6, Ellison Hazen, 8, Jennifer Hazen and Cynthia Parkin hold their signs at a “Thank you Lisa” healthcare rally Saturday, July 29, 2017 at Town Square Park. According to organizer Kokayi Nosakhere, around 200 people participated in the rally, designed to show support for Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted against her party as they tried to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. (Loren Holmes / Alaska Dispatch News)

A rally and march in downtown Anchorage Saturday morning, planned to encourage Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski to "stay strong" on opposing the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, got a new message at the end of this week: "Thank you."

Early Friday morning, Murkowski joined fellow Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and John McCain of Arizona in voting against a Republican-led repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Her vote delighted progressive activists in Alaska who opposed the Republican health care legislation, most recently referred to as "skinny repeal."

On Saturday in Town Square Park, about 200 people showed up for a rally, according to organizer Kokayi Nosakhere.

"Thank you!" Nosakhere shouted at the crowd through a megaphone.

"Lisa!" the crowd shouted back.

Soon the group was marching down Fifth Avenue to Murkowski's Anchorage office.

[Disappointment marks reaction among Alaska Republicans to Murkowski health care vote]

Many carried signs expressing gratitude at Murkowski's "no" vote. Cynthia Parkin, 50, carried a sign that said "R=Resist," a reference to Murkowski as a Republican.

"I know Lisa just went against the grain," said Parkin, who said she typically votes for Democrats and has not voted for Murkowski in the past. "She needs to hear from her constituents."