One Hundred ADAPT Activists Arrested at the White House
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ADAPT
Activists at the White House |
ADAPT came to Washington DC to change the long-term care system in this country. To begin the action, over 500 ADAPT advocates marched straight to the White house and demanded that President Bush apologize to those Americans whose lives have been stolen because of the bias that exists in this nation’s public policy.
In front of the White House, ADAPT heard first-hand from citizens who were forced to live in an institution.
“It took me two-and-a-half years and I had to fight to get out,” said Evelyn Thomas standing in front of a fifty-yard long banner that documents many individuals whose lives
were stolen. “Now I go to nursing homes to help other people get out. The funny thing is that the nursing home I lived in called security when I went back to help people get out of the nursing home.”
ADAPT’s Stolen Lives Campaign highlights the tragedy of real people harmed by forced institutionalization. Because community services are not in place, people with disabilities are often compelled to leave their homes and families to live in an institution. Institutions are the most expensive and least desirable form of long-term care.
“I watched how they destroy people,” said Dan Smith of Salt Lake about his own nursing home experience. “They would rather change your diapers then deal with a personality.”
Previously, ADAPT wrote President Bush asking for an apology [Read the letter asking for an
apology]. Today, ADAPT demand that apology. After hearing the compelling life-stories of individuals who had been forced
to live in nursing homes, nearly a hundred advocates rushed onto the sidewalk and handcuffed themselves to the fence surrounding the White House.
“ADAPT will not remain silent,” said Dawn Russell of Denver who was arrested at the White House fence. “The Bush Administration and Congress will see and hear what Americans with disabilities face.”
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Bruce
Darling holds the STOLEN LIVES Banner |
The police sealed off the area and gave ADAPT members a “third and final warning.” Still angry from hearing first-hand of Stolen Lives, ADAPT advocates ignored the warning and about
100 were arrested.
“With luck,” said Greg Jones of Kansas, “the general public will get the message and get mad about all the money we are pissing away.”
As a backdrop for the action in front of the White House, ADAPT unfurled a banner with photos and stories from people who have lost part of their life because of a lack of community options. Kathleen Kleinmann on seeing the banner remarked: “We just bumped it up a notch.”
The banner was powerful. Over 150 feet long, it showed the diversity and range of typical American citizens, yet the thing they all have in common is that part of their lives were stolen by the unfair Medicaid policy. Many of those who spoke to ADAPT could point to their photos or stories on the banner.
“How would President Bush feel,” asked Lopeti of Salt Lake City, “if he were told to go to bed at 8:00 at night?”
Mike Eakin summed-up the feelings of many citizens following his being processed by the Park Police: “Bush should be ashamed of himself because of all the stolen lives.”
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