War and Free Speech Protests Leads Lisa Grant to Become the First 'Bid to Hire' Virtual Protester

CRANSTON, R.I./EWORLDWIRE/Sep. 25, 2007 --- 'We can do almost anything virtually these days," says Lisa Grant, founder and executive director of FreeHealthCareNOW (FHCN), "so why not Virtually Protest something?"

Grant, a publisher by day, became "an instant activist" after viewing Michael Moore's film SiCKO. "My life changed overnight," Grant says, "and FreeHealthCareNOW was literally born the next morning. There was no way I could just go back to living as I had before I saw the movie, and the suffering of Americans without - and with - health insurance." Based in Providence, Rhode Island, FHCN is dedicated to obtaining Health Care for all Americans.

When she learned that the Troops Out Now Coalition's protest against the Iraq war this week in the nation's capitol would press the theme of "Health Care, Not Warfare," Grant was determined to take part but was aware of possible problems. "Free Speech in our country has become, if not silenced, then certainly muffled," Grant adds, "and I watched with the rest of the country as protesters were tasered and arrested. I knew that wouldn't stop me, though I'm almost old enough to be a grandma, but I worried that concern about altercations and personal safety might prevent or deter others from doing something they really believed in."

Grant's unique solution: she's offering herself as a Virtual Political Protester on eBay. The winner of the auction, which ends Thursday afternoon, will get the slogan of their choice placed on a sign or poster and will receive a digital video of the sign being carried by Grant throughout the march. It will be, Grant says, "A safe and guaranteed Taser-Free Experience!."

If the concept catches on, Grant intends to hire herself out Virtually for other marches, protests, and 2008 Debate attendee to question candidates for those who cannot be there themselves.