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ಮುಖಪುಟ / ಸಂಪುಟಗಳು / Detroit, Fall 1986 41
ರಚಿಸಲಾದ ದಿನಾಂಕ / 2013 / ಜುಲೈ
- ADAPT (274)
PHOTO by Tom Olin: In a hallway next to an elevator bank, three people in wheelchairs sit in a quarter circle. Their mouths are open, chanting. Bob Kafka, left, and Stephanie Thomas, center, wear ADAPT T-shirts with the no steps logo. Loretta Dufriend, on right, has on a jacket and skirt. All have different, intense expressions on their faces and all are looking to their left toward the camera. In the dark behind them you can make out a couple of other protesters in the hall too. - ADAPT (276)
PHOTO by ?: A man in a manual, sports-type, wheelchair (Glenn Horton) has his mouth wide open chanting, and beside him another man in older manual chair (Bernard Baker) chants with him. Behind him two police officers look like they are taking Glenn away. A third officer faces Glenn and looks down at him. The dark police uniforms, cause Glenn to stand out, and his dark sunglasses give him a slightly crazed look. Behind this little group you can see other officers and a TV camera man by a downtown office building. - ADAPT (291)
This is a continuation of the story on ADAPT 292 but the entire text of the story is included there for easier reading. [this page also includes a second article] [Headline] 17 disrupt bus service, now facing court date The 2,300 APTA delegates, meeting through Thursday at the Westin Hotel, heard keynote speaker Ed Bradley of CBS News condem the tactics and positions of the handicappers. Bradley said he was lobbied by the Denver-based ADAPT to cancel his speaking engagement at the convention, but, after checking with Mayor Young and investigating ADAPT and its tactics, he decided he couldn't support the group. Bradley said he also checked with civil rights leader Rosa Parks, who canceled an appearance at a downtown ADAPT parade Sunday, saying she disapproved of their tactics. Mayor Young, in a press conference after his welcoming remarks to the convention, defended the city's efforts to provide wheelchair lifts on buses. He said the protesters, who have staged similar demonstrations at previous APTA conferences, using "Sabotage and sensationalism" to take "advantage of their disabilities tothrow themselves in front of buses. That's not the way to win co-operation." Young said the city recently bought 100 new buses, 20 of which were lift-equipped. "Rumpelstiltskin could make gold come out of straw," he said. "If I had that facility I would be able to do what they (ADAPT) ask." - ADAPT (330)
[The first part of this photo is a continuation of the story that starts on ADAPT 131 and the full text of that article is included there for easier reading. Below is a second article that is included here.] Non-violent civil disobedience effectively promotes change By Verna Spayth Power is not inherently violent, however, in governmental form it is often expressed in a violent manner. Governmental power is maintained through the agreement of the oppressed and the tacit compliance of the majority of the governed. Any significant withdrawal of that compliance seriously restricts, or even removes, governmental control. Apathy in the face of injustice is a form of violence. Struggle and conflict are often necessary to correct injustice. Our struggle is not an easy one. We must not think of nonviolent civil disobedience as a safe and easy way to fight our oppression. The strength comes from our willingness to take personal risk without threatening others. When a compliant majority sees us risking our personal safety and health for our cause, they will be forced — perhaps for the first time — to confront their stereotypical images of people with disabilities and to begin to change those images. However, it is essential that we separate the individual from the role played. Non-disabled people are not the enemy. The “enemy” is the system that forces people into the roles of oppressed and oppressor. A nonviolent campaign must focus on the issues and the system, rather than on the personalities involved. Nonviolent direct action is an attempt to produce change. It should be treated like a conversation where one is communicating a particular message. We should always be willing to listen and learn from the other side. If we treat our opponents with honesty and respect, our truth will be easier for them to hear. Avot d’Rabbi Nathan has suggested that the “strongest of the mighty” is the one who “makes a friend out of an adversary.” We must begin to confront and move beyond our own personal fears. There is true strength and power to be found when we come together. Pandit Nehru described the core of Gandhi’s campaign for Indian self-rule this way: “It was against this all-pervading fear [of British repression] that Gandhi’s quiet and determined voice was raised: BE NOT AFRAID.” - ADAPT (289)
Protest for disabled PHOTO (from an unknown newspaper) By Melanie Stengel, UPI: A heavy set older woman (Edith Harris) in a scooter is surrounded by three uniformed police officers. Behind them on one side, a bus; behind on the other side, a large city building. Edith, who has no legs is sitting at an angle in the scooter, looking at her left hand. Two of the officers have her by her wrists, and a third, is doing something behind her back. The caption reads: BUS-TED: Edith Harris, of Hartford, Conn., is arrested for blocking a bus in front of the City-County Building in Detroit Monday. Harris, with ADAPT — American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation — was among about 18 arrested Monday, the second day of demonstrations to gain the attention of the American Public Transit Association. ADAPT is protesting the lack of wheelchair accessibility on the nation's buses and trains. The association is meeting in Detroit. - ADAPT (286)
A man [Rick James] sits in his motorized wheelchair, finger on his joy stick, in front of glass doors. The doors have a sign reading Mayor's Office, and from inside you can see a man in a suit peering out. Rick is wearing his mountain man hat, a full beard and mustache, a no steps ADAPT logo T-shirt, several ADAPT buttons, a jacket and plaid pants. - ADAPT (277)
Unattributed quote "It seems to me that this group of yelling protesting handicappers is to the handicapper rights movement what the freedom riders were to more conservative members of the civil rights movement. They are righteous hellions whose goals are shared by other handicappers, even though their extreme tactics are sometimes rejected." PHOTO: A large round man in a manual wheelchair (Jerry Eubanks) is being escorted by three uniformed police officers. Jerry, a double amputee, holds his arms up from the wheels and two of the policemen are trying to hold onto his arms, while the third pushes him forward. Jerry looks slightly surprised and amused. - ADAPT (292)
[Image] [Image caption] Police arrest Edith Harris, of Hartford, Conn., after she blocked and then hung onto the open door of a bus when it stopped on Woodward next to the City-County Building. UP Press [Headline] 17 handicappers face charges after protest By Jim Finkelstein Free Press Staff Writer 10/7/86 Police arrested 17 handicappers Monday as the wheelchair users protested for the second day to get the attention of a transit convention meeting downtown. About 85 protesters rallied outside Mayor Young's office Monday morning for wheelchair-accessible public transit, a protest they have brought to several past conventions of the American Public Transit Association. Then the members of the American Disabled for Accessible Public transportation (ADAPT) tried to board city buses downtown to demonstrate the lack of lift equipment on several buses. Police said the 17 were charged with disorderly conduct. Sixteen of the 17 were released on $100 personal bond. One protester was held because she would not give police her name or other information, according to ADAPT member Glenn Horton, 46, of Dallas. An Oct. 24 hearing date was set. Police said wheelchair users who were arrested were put on a van with an electronic lift and taken to police headquarters downtown. SEMTA spokesman Mike Niemann said SEMTA agreed to lend police a lift-equipped van, but he was uncertain whether police took the offer. The bus-boarding protest ended around 2:30 p.m. after the arrests, said Molly Blank, an ADAPT spokeswoman. She said the demonstrators were arrested for crawling onto the buses, blocking their doors or blocking the buses' paths. [Image] [Image caption] Keynote speaker Ed Bradley of CBS News said that after investigating ADAPT and its tactics, he decided he couldn't support the group. [text continues] The protesters were meeting at the Day's Inn hotel Monday afternoon to decide their next move, said Blank. [image] [image caption] Protesters in wheelchairs are arrested by police after they blocked a bus on Woodward near Larned in Detroit. UP Photo [text continues] ADAPT members who lined downtown bus stops Monday, trying to board Detroit Department of Transportation buses, said they came from around the country to win wheelchair accessibility on public transit systems. Free Press Staff Writer John Castine contributed to this report. - ADAPT (323)
Mark Johnson sits against the wall between two elevators. He is in a manual wheelchair and is looking intently down the hall past the camera. On either side of him stands a uniformed police officer. - ADAPT (273)
PHOTO: Three police officers tip Ken Heard, an Asian American man, way back in his motorized wheelchair in an apparent attempt to stop him. The two on his side look somewhat taken aback, while the guy behind him looks determined and wary. Ken looks like he is waiting for his moment. Ken's hand and arm are up by his side and his control for his wheelchair, mounted on his footrest, is flipped over. Between and behind a couple of the officers an African American man is standing watching, with a smile on his face. - ADAPT (275)
THE DETROIT NEWS / Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1986 The two articles that appear here are continuations of articles from ADAPT 285 and the entire text of the articles appear there for easier reading. In addition to the articles there is a photo and news graphic that appear here. NEWS GRAPHIC: Handicapped accessible buses Here's a look at the number of buses that are handicap accessible and average number of daily riders on 6 transit systems: Wheelchair Lifts : Baltimore has 100. Chicago has 0, Cleveland has 0. Denver has 440, Detroit has 196, SEMTA has 140. Total Buses: Baltimore has 900, Chicago has 2,275, Cleveland has 656, Denver has 760, Detroit has 603, SEMTA has 203. Daily Riders: Baltimore has 240,000, Chicago has 1.6 million, Cleveland has 263,400, Denver has 160,000, Detroit has 180,000, SEMTA has 203,000. (59 small vans for handicapped, all wheel chair accessible.) PHOTO News Photo by W. Lynn Owens: A man with bushy hair and beard and hoodie and jacket stands by the open door of a city bus. He looks down as another person sitting on the steps of the bus pulls himself/herself up the steps. On the sidewalk in front of the man and the bus is an empty manual wheelchair with a small bag on the back. Inside the bus is dark but you can see the outline of the driver looking on. Caption reads: Protester tries to board city bus from wheelchair. - ADAPT (279)
This story is a continuation of the story on ADAPT 280 and the text of the entire article has been included there for easier reading. - ADAPT (284)
PHOTO: A young woman in a motorized chair sits with a very determined yet innocent look on her face. Behind her stand three police officers in dark uniforms and elaborate hats. Beside them and behind and to the side of the woman sits an older man with CP in a manual wheelchair. He may be in line behind the woman. Behind him and the officers is a room divider, and a fourth policeman peers out from behind the divider. Title: They got me thinking I don't spend a lot of time thinking about handicappers. Maybe I should, but I don't. I have, however, spent a considerable amount of time riding the bus up Woodward. And on those trips I have on occasion seen people in wheelchairs crawl up the steps of the bus either because the lift didn't work or there was no lift. I remember marveling at one young man with massive arms and a barrel chest who hurled his chair onto the bus like a shot-putter and then hoisted himself up the stairs and into a front seat. - ADAPT (288)
This story is a continuation of the first article in ADAPT 296. The text of the article is included there for easier reading. PHOTO: The dark figures of 3 Detroit police officers loom into the frame from all sides. Through a small hole between their arms you can see the face and chest of a man (Ken Heard) they are surrounding. Below their arms you can see the wheels and frame Ken's wheelchair. Caption reads: Detroit police had their hands full when they placed Ken Heard under arrest. - ADAPT (310)
[Headline] Wheels of Change in Detroit: [Subheading] Disabled Hit Motor City A terrible threat was facing Detroit. The city's police force was prepared; its officers had undergone special intensive training. Over four days, hundreds of cops were on the streets to deal with the menace. The Detroit police department cancelled a march previously approved because of "danger of physical violence". The cops considered this menace more threatening than the Nazi party, which had been allowed to parade in Detroit a month before. What posed such an extraordinary threat to the people of Detroit? A group of people confined to wheelchairs, ADAPT, Americans Disabled for Accessible Transportation. Detroit was feeling the power of people coming together to fight for the right to get on the bus. It started in Denver, where after six years of determined and vocal protest, disabled people won a completely wheelchair accessible transit system. Then ADAPT went national to tackle the issue on a larger scale. The issue of getting on the bus is not a minor one. There are an estimated 36 million disabled persons in the United States. For all of these people, transportation is a basic need for independence. In most cities a person in a wheelchair can-not get on any regularly scheduled transportation system. Being unable to get to and from work prevents many disabled people from keeping a job and so winning a measure of independence. The fight for independence is a practical one. It is also a symbolic one. "The disabled are one of the most oppressed groups," says Wade Blank of ADAPT. "Their average pay is under 10 cents an hour because of a waiver of minimum wage laws. Those who can get a job often work in sweat-shop conditions." According to Blank, "The black struggle for civil rights in the sixties taught us everything we need to know. Separate is not equal. If a group is not allowed to integrate, it will be treated worse than the rest of society." He further explains that Martin Luther King Jr. chose buses as an issue that symbolized racism. ADAPT chose buses as a symbol of paternalism. Transportation for the disabled is a nationwide issue but ADAPT can't be everywhere at once, so in true guerilla fashion, it follows the symbol of its oppression. This symbol is the American Public Transit Association, APTA. APTA is a professional lobbying group representing the interests of transportation officials from all over the country. APTA has come out against full transportation accessibility for the disabled. The stated reason is the cost of installing wheelchair lifts in each bus. According to Donald Lozen of the Center for Independent Living in Detroit, however, this cost is no greater than the expense of installing air-conditioning in city buses. In addition to forcing APTA to change its discriminatory stance, ADAPT fights to win changes in local transit systems. Many local battles have been won. In addition to Denver, ADAPT has won changes in Seattle, Kansas City, Colorado Springs, Dallas, and Atlanta. Before coming to Detroit, ADAPT hit Cincinnati, where, in four days of street fighting, the wheelchair pro-testers tied up bus service for an after-noon which threatened to bring the en-tire city to a halt. Seventeen ADAPT demonstrators were arrested and several were jailed for six days. (See Disclosure No. 93 for details.) Disabled Americans from all over the country converged on Detroit on October 6-9 to protest continued discrimination against people in wheelchairs. APTA was holding its annual national convention there. ADAPT's protest began on Sunday, October 5, with a wheelchair march along Michigan Avenue to the Westin Hotel where APTA members were staying. ADAPT members marched along the sidewalks, shouting"We Will Ride." They were forced to stay on the sidewalk since their parade permit had been revoked at the last minute by the city of Detroit. APTA members were so terrified by the prospect of being confronted by the angry disabled protesters that when they left the hotel for a fancy cocktail party at the Ford Museum, they snuck out the back way. [Image] [Image caption] Four police tackle one disabled ADAPT protester in Detroit. ADAPT members blocked the front entrance to the Museum with their wheelchairs, forcing 2,300 APTA members to walk a long way in the rain to get in by the Museum's back entrance. Even though the protesters could not get at the partygoers directly, they stuck it out. "One of our people got a door open," recalls Blank. "We were throwing things and shouting to remind them that the peasants were outside in the rain. I can't imagine how they felt, see-ing all those wheelchairs in the rain. They had to feel bad." The transit officials and the police were expecting ADAPT members to try and make a hit at the APTA convention the next day when Mayor Young was speaking. ADAPT took them by surprise and went to the Mayor's office instead. ADAPT got 50 wheelchairs up the elevators before the cops even caught on. When they stopped protesters from going up the elevators, they took the escalators, which the police had thought was impossible. When, one way or another, about 85 protesters were upstairs, ADAPT members asked the Mayor's staff, "Do we have the right to go on Detroit buses?" Fred Martin, the Mayor's Assistant, said, "Sure, anyone can ride on the Detroit buses." ADAPT members took Martin at his word and tried to board and pay fare on downtown buses. They picked 18 stops and all started crawling on at the same time. "We shut down the buses downtown. Then the arrests started. They classified our action as disorderly conduct," notes Blank. "I didn't know getting on a bus was disorderly conduct." There were 18 arrests of the would-be passengers. The police, having been specially trained, handled the pro-testers with care, 3-4 officers to a chair, but the jail was not wheelchair accessible, so they were stuck in the police gym. To protest the jailings, 60 ADAPT members who hadn't been arrested circled the police station chanting, "Let Our People Go" for three hours. Twenty police officers stood and watched in awe. And they did let the protesters go. People were released overnight since the police had no facilities to keep the disabled in. The following day, the protesters came together outside the McNamara Federal building. Their purpose was to meet with Senator Donald Riegle's staff. But as the people in wheelchairs began to go up the escalators in pairs, the police started making arrests, 37 in all. So it was back to jail. [Pulled quote] "'l didn't know getting on a bus was disorderly conduct." [text continues] Everyone was eventually released after a judge examined and denounced the conditions the disabled were being kept under as deplorable. ADAPT's protests in Detroit did more than make transit officials squirm. It also gave new hope to disabled people in the Detroit area. An ADAPT chapter has just formed in Detroit. SEMTA, Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority, one of two bus systems serving Detroit, has just signed a resolution committing itself to completely accessible transport by 1988. This resolution affirms that "the ability to ride a public transit vehicle is a civil right that should not be denied to any individual." Donald Lozen says that for the first time, handicapped people in Detroit are starting to come together to work on common issues. "We must thank ADAPT; it's a direct result of their coming to town." [Image] [Image caption] "We Will Ride."