New London — Amid rallies nationwide Saturday in support of the Affordable Care Act, several dozen residents from New London and the region gathered in Parade Plaza to protest plans to repeal the health care law.

Carrying signs with messages such as "Healthcare is a right not a privilege" and "It's Cool to be Healthy," the crowd, some wearing the iconic pink hats knitted for the Women's March on Washington, chanted slogans of support for the health care law to passing motorists on Bank Street.

While Priscilla Newell, 88, said she doesn't need to worry about insurance herself, "I feel for all those people who aren't able to get insurance."

"It's scary what's happening ... we need the ACA," she said, sitting on her walker at the front of the crowd.

Nationwide, ACA supporters increasingly have been vocal about their concerns over the promised repeal of the health care law, filling local town halls and pressuring lawmakers on the issue.

The rallies were first called for by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to show support for the health care law, as control of two branches of government meant Republicans would have a shot at repealing it.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, has been hosting forums with constituents to answer questions about the future of the law.

Republican legislators and President Donald Trump have called for a quick repeal, which they view as a regulatory and economic burden, and replacement with a new policy. The president signed an executive order Jan. 23 signaling he will seek a repeal, and directed executive branch agencies to use all legal avenues to lessen the law's fiscal and regulatory burdens.

Those assembled Saturday held diverse views on the health care law, with some focused solely on saving it for the roughly 20 million citizens that depend on it, and others pushing to go even further and implement a Medicare-style single-payer system advocated by Sanders during the Democratic primary.

Still others took aim at President Trump himself and White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.

Susan Goldman of Norwich said she was able to keep her son on her health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and that mandating coverage of pre-existing conditions was really important to her.

She and others in the crowd joined a local Facebook group, "We Stand Together," after attending a post-election candlelight vigil in New London. They went on to join the Women's March and get weekly updates about the opportunities for activism in the area through the group.

Longtime activist Gaby Schlesinger of New London said she thinks it's "absolutely essential" for people to have insurance and "not just people in high-paying positions."

She remained focused on retaining the health care law for the people that need it.

"A sick society cannot be a great society," she said.

n.lynch@theday.com