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صفحه اصلی / آلبومها / Nashville - Free Our People Hearings, March 2006 37
We started off the Nashville 2006 action with a day long hearing of the experiences of people who had been institutionalized and had gotten out. The testimony was chilling and moving and more. From that experience we held a rally at legislative plaza across the street from the Tennessee state Capitol and then blocked intersections in front of the Capitol. Tennessee had been rated one of the worst states in nation for trapping people in nursing homes and not supporting them in the community. The next day we blocked the street in front of the Capitol and on the last day took our message to the TennCare offices and Regional HUD office.
- ADAPT (1631)
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3 www.tennessean.com The Tennesseean Wednesday, March 22, 2006 3A Nation From Page 1A Police officials said they did not know of the roadblocking plans of the activists, who are members of the group American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, or ADAPT. Nor did they make arrangements for wheelchair-accessible vans and buses to be used right at rush hour to arrest large numbers of ADAPT protesters Those vehicles didn't show up until later in the day. Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas yesterday called the groups roadblocking “spontaneous,” and said in e-mail to The Tennessean that Metro “had no forewarning that this was going to be their behavior.” The ADAPT members. in town for a national meeting, made a mess of Monday afiemoon traffic for state workers by using themselves and their wheelchairs to block several key intersections around the Capitol. The streets they chose effectively boxed in drivers in several parking ‘garages and large surface lots designated for state workers. The Tennessee Tower, for instance, in the heart of the protest zone, is the workplace for 2,300 people. Many state workers left work late —- and angry. Secretary Carolyn Newman said she needed medicine at home that she takes for her epilepsy. “At 7:30, I was beginning to get a little frightened." she said She said she asked the protesters to let her leave and they refused That was stunning, she said. because the group was hurting many of the rank-and-file workers who joined state govemment to help people Now, this group was preventing many from picking up children at day care, catching planes, or getting medicine. ‘They said, ‘We don't have our medicine, either,‘ " Newman said. “Don't they know we are the people up here helping people?" The group blocked only one street yesterday, Charlotte Avenue, in front of the Capitol It prevented no workers from leaving Meanwhile, Metro officials appeared more prepared to make arrests yesterday and had the equipment on hand they needed to cart away numerous people in wheelchairs Starting at 4:30 p.m., police arrests began- 44 in all. On Monday, the people blocking the streets couldn’t be arrested because Metro had no way to carry them to jail until traflic had been blocked for hours. “In order to accomplish mass physical arrests of wheelchair bound individuals, we would need specially equipped vans and vehicles such as those used by MTA and the school system,” Serpas said. ‘These vehicles were in use and were not available until late in the day.” ADAPT has chalked up a history of civil disobedience since its founding in 1983, and has gotten results: The group was crucial in getting wheelchair lifts installed on buses nationwide. The group, which has offices in Austin, Texas, and Denver, has chapters throughout the US, including Tennessee, and can mobilize activists to meet at cities to protest for the rights of those who have disabilities — and, at times, get arrested doing so. indeed, almost a year to the day after the Tennessee State Capitol shutdown, the group, using wheelchairs, canes and bodies, blocked a budget committee room at the Colorado state Capitol in Denver. Protesters stayed until a lawmaker agreed to listen to their demands Also last year, the group staged similar actions in two Pennsylvania cities, Lebanon and the capital, Harrisburg And 104 ADAPT members were arrested in September when they occupied congressional offices in Washington The protesters’ point, the group said, was to show people what it is like to have trouble going from place to place. “People have ignored us," said protester Bob Kafka, 60, from Austin, Texas. “You don't understand the urine, the feces, the bedsores.” In the 1993 Nashville protest about 100 members of the group were arrested at the Opryland Hotel They tried entering the hotel to confront officials of the American Health Care Association, a national nursing home group that was meeting there A news release from the group on March3 announcing its meeting in Nashville — to listen to testimony — alluded to civil disobedience. It said “People have been asking me. ‘Why Nashville?" as the site for this hearing,‘ wrote Randy Alexander, Tennessee ADAPT organizer. ‘I tell them, where better? After all, Tennessee has a history of being the site of some of this country's seminal civil rights demonstrations'“ [image] [image caption] Blocked in. Protesters from the group ADAPT barred state workers from getting out of downtown Monday evening after shutting off key key intersections near parking garages for major state office complexes. [image] [image caption] Protesters from American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, or ADAPT, block Charlotte Avenue yesterday. Metro police brought in buses to carry many of the protesters to jail. Sanford Myers/ Staff - ADAPT (1620)
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[Headline] Disabled Take Over Downtown Nashville [image] [image caption] Police began cuffing and removing protesters. Activists using power wheelchairs were the most difficult Cops dragged one and attempted to use the controls to drive another one from the street. Four hundred disabled people took over Capitol Hill in downtown Nashville on March 20-21. Governor Bredesen refused to meet with his disabled constituents for two days. Bredesen has cut two hundred thousand people from the state's Medicaid program and enforced severe restrictions on thousands of those he permitted to stay on the program. After Bredesen cut millions of dollars from the state Medicaid program, untold numbers of disabled people were forced into nursing homes. ADAPT organized the event to fight for an end to immoral state and federal policies that require elderly and disabled people to live in nursing homes against their will. They held a march and a day of testimony by people formerly warehoused in nursing homes. After several peaceful attempts to enter the Capitol to address an elected public official, the delegation blocked the Legislative Plaza area. Hundreds of folks in wheelchairs blocked at least half a dozen downtown intersections for hours. It was raining and the temperature was 40 degrees. Protestors wrapped themselves in raincoats and their chair's power controls in shower caps. The disabled protesters prevented hundreds of Lawmakers, state workers and legislative staffers from leaving work at the onset of rush hour. The protesters chanted: "Just like a nursing home you can't get out." Rather than listen to the voice of the people, Governor Bredesen responded with force: a huge police presence and barricades. The police moved in and arrested 80 people the first day and over 60 local and [boxed text] Help ADAPT Persuade Governor Bredesen to: national advocates the next day. 1. Support the passage, funding and implementation of the Tennessee Community Choices Act of 2006. 2. Reverse all funding cuts and policies in Tennessee that remove disabled and older Tennesseans from their own homes and force them into institutions. 3. Work with ADAPT and the National Governor's Association to implement state and federal "Money Follows the Person" (MFP) funding and policies. 4.Write Senator Frist and the Tennessee delegation telling them that Tennessee supports MiCASSA (Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act) and asking them to support MiCASSA and hold hearings on the bill. Bob Kafka 512-431-4085 Janine Bertram 503-504-9787 www.adapt.org [image] [image caption] The police realized they were not equipped with accessible transportation. Without a way to take those who use wheelchairs to the station for the arrest, the police ended up giving everyone citations. Mother Warriors Voice page 7 - ADAPT (1646)
[Headline] Protest shuts down downtown [image] [image caption] Members of the health care group ADAPT block streets demanding a meeting with the governor and creating havoc for drivers. Page 3 [boxed text] Is blocking traffic a valid way to protest? Vote online at Nashvillepaper.com - ADAPT (1628)
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Testimony [ADAPT logo] Randy Alexander, Tennessee Glen Barnhill, Tennessee James Boyd, Tennessee Marvin Boyd, Tennessee Kurt Breslaw, Colorado Tameka Caleb, Pennsylvania Mike Clark, Kansas Connie Cummings, Ohio Sheila Dean, Colorado Margaret Peggy Dougherty, Pennsylvania Phyllis ElDahouk, Maryland Earl Ellison, Tennessee Bob Fesel, New Jersey Kari Foland, Georgia Roberta Gallant, NH Cathy Garber, Utah John Gladstone, Pennsylvania Oneda C Gordon, Georgia Dawn M. Green, Wisconsin Teresa Grove, Illinois Ken Hauser, New Jersey Charlie 'Buddie" Homiller, PA Rick James, Colorado Jeffrey Johnson, Wisconsin Chris Jones, Tennessee Rick Leotard, Colorado Devoe Mack, Colorado Lori Marabry, Tennessee Michelle McCandless, PA Mike McCarty, Colorado Frank McColm, Colorado Linda Merkle, Maryland Albert Metz, Texas Angela Miller, Washington DC Richard Miller, New York Samuel Mitchelle, Georgia Shelly Perrin, New York Daniel Remick, Wisconsin Elizabeth Richter, Connecticut Dorothy Ruffin, Pennsylvania Larry Ruiz, Colorado Eileen "Spitfire" Sabel, PA Danny Saenz, Texas Steve Schaefer, Illinois Rebecca Schefer, New Jersey Dane Scotin, Georgia Jean Searle, Pennsylvania Dan Smith, Utah Gene Spinning, New York Rance Stewart, Tennessee Floyd Stewart, Jr., Tennessee Pam Stover, New York Gordon Sunny, Indiana Greg Sutton, Georgia Mike Taylor, Tennessee Daryl Teague, Pennsylvania Zella Tegtmeier, Texas James JT Templeton, Texas Lype Vasquez, Texas Erik Von Schmetterling, PA Sarah Wendell, Vermont Jamie Ziegler, Illinois [next page] ADAPTs Day of Testimony Documenting the Institutional Bias in the American Long Term Care System. Real People, Real Voices Sunday, March 19, 2006 Nashville, Tennessee Hilton Hotel Volunteer Ballroom [ADAPT logo] - ADAPT (1641)
[Headline] Protesters demand at-home health aid [Headline] Hundreds clog Capitol during rush hour, locking in lawmakers, state workers By Trent Seibert Staff Writer Thousands of state workers — and dozens of state legislators— found themselves prevented from retuning home after work yesterday when hundreds of protesters with disabilities descended onto the state Capitol, blocking streets and parking garage exits. The highly organized group included many in wheelchairs. Some carried banners critical of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s approach to health care. Most wore brightly colored ponchos while blocking downtown streets in a mist that hovered over Nashville. Their chief concern: Tennessee is too prone to ship disabled people to nursing homes rather than helping them get care in their own homes. “Just like a nursing home, you can’t get out," the protesters chanted, while many of the 2300 state employees who work in the Tennessee Tower waited in their cars for the protest to disperse. By 6 p.m. Metro police began making arrests on Charlotte Avenue so workers could make their way home. “We want to stay home, not be stored in a warehouse," said Don DuVaul, a 51-year-old West Point, Tenn., man who uses a wheelchair, and a leader in American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, or ADAPT, the national group that organized the protest “We’re making our voices heard across the state and nation." Many state workers grumbled about the wait At least one state senator approached leaders of the group to inquire about their issues. "This was a little distressing to me when I drove in,” said Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D—Memphis.“But sometimes it takes something like this to get someone's attention." Bowers said she would take a list of the protesters’ demands to Bredesen, including a reversal of all TennCare cuts that either “resulted or will result in disabled and older Tennesseans being removed from their homes and forced into nursing homes” Bredesen did not retum a call seeking comment It was unclear by yesterday evening how long the activists would stay. If their demands are not met. “I guess we'll do it again," said Bruce Darling, 42. of Rochester. N.Y. [PICTURE] Conswella Padgett chants with olher protesters blocking Charlotte Avenue. Protesters in wheelchairs blocked several intersections around the state Capitol, not allowing state employees to leave work. [PICTURE] Tim Wheat is handcuffed and carried off by police. - ADAPT (1656)
[Headline] Real People-Real Voices ADAPT has come to Nashville, Tennessee to document the impact of the institutional bias in the American long term care system on the lives of REAL PEOPLE. Tennessee highlights the failure of policy makers in our state and federal governments to bring REAL CHOICES to people with disabilities and their families who are in need of long term services and sup-ports to live in the community. ADAPT's Day of Testimony will record "Real Voices" of "Real People" who have experienced the isolation of be-ing warehoused in the institutions of the United States. These REAL VOICES will provide evidence of the need to reform the institutionally biased long term care system. Their voices must be heard and no longer be ignored by our State Legislatures and Congress. [Subheading] Sponsors Permobil Inc Tennessee Disability Coalition SEIU Delta Resource Center for Independent Living Arc of Tennessee Nashville Peace and Justice Coalition Special Thanks to the AAPD for providing Sign-Language Interrupters. [Subheading] Schedule 9:30 am Introduction of the National Panel 10:00 Lois Curtis Introduced by Cassie James Johnny Crescendo--Josie 10:30 Testimony – Tennessee 12:15 pm Diane Coleman – Free Our People! 1:00 Testimony – National 2:30 Break 3:00 Testimony National 4:45 Closing Stephanie Thomas Johnny Crescendo—Tear Down The Walls. Panelists: American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), ADAWatch, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), National Council on Disability (NCD), Department of Health and Human Services-Office on Disabilities www.adapt.org - ADAPT (1640)
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3/23/06 CITY LIMITS [Heading] We've Got Issues [Subheading] Sound Off This week, a couple of Scene writers vent their spleens, raise their brows or clap their hands about recent Nashville events. [Headline] Takin' it to the streets At 11:45 Tuesday morning, as we walked down Third Avenue on the way to hear Al Gore lecture some Rotarians, a massive line of people riding scooters, sitting in wheelchairs and sporting seeing-eye dogs took over the streets. They bellowed chants in a cold, driving rain: "What do we want? Freedom! When do we want it? Now!" And "Our homes, not nursing homes!" Little did we know that long after lunchtime and well into evening, handicapped people would be blocking intersections and snarling traffic all around the state capitol. Frustrated government employees engaged in shouting matches with poncho-wearing protestors. "You're trapped—adapt!" a protesting man with a bullhorn yelled. American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT), the national group that led the protest, took an issue no one talks about and turned it into a two-day event that dominated news coverage. Before Monday, the only Nashvillians who had thought anything about health care for the disabled were people who had personal experiences with it. Now, it's a political issue. There's nothing like having someone in a wheelchair show you what confinement feels like to build a little reflective empathy. (Unless you're Phil Bredesen, in which case you just scold them.) There's a time and a place for direct action, and there's a difference between making a point and needlessly disrupting people's lives. But this is a group of pissed-off people who the rest of us would just as soon pretend don't exist. After all, we quickly avert our eyes from disabled folks on a daily basis, and its not like these people can stand up to meet our gaze or get our attention. Who could begrudge their provocative—though peaceful—tactics? Sometimes you've got to block some traffic to be heard. --John Spragens - ADAPT (1629)
Page 2 April 6, 2006 www.workers.org [Headline] `Free our brothers and sisters' [Subheading] Disabled protesters besiege Tennessee state capitol By Lou Paulsen More than 400 disabled activists from 40 states and the District of Columbia recently staged five days of militant action in Nashville, the capital of Tennessee and a national headquarters of for-profit health care. Mobilized by American Disabled for Attendant Pro-grams Today (ADAPT), they demanded an end to policies that force elderly and disabled people to go into nursing homes for services that they should be receiving in their own homes. On March 19, in front of media and federal officials, over ioo present and former residents of Tennessee nursing homes testified to the miserable and oppressive conditions they faced. "I swear to god it was like listening to people who just got out of prison," recalled Chicago ADAPT organizer Ed Hoffman. Being institutionalized in Tennessee is so bad, and services outside nursing homes are so impossible to get, that activists have had to create strategies to help disabled people escape to other states—a system they call the Underground Railroad. The next day, hundreds of protesters, many using wheel-chairs, marched uphill in cold and wet weather to a rally at the War Memorial. They then blockaded several inter-sections around the Capitol building for over five hours, while also shutting down the exit from the parking garage. They chanted, "Just like a nursing home—you can't get out!" Sixty were arrested. On March 21 they returned to the Capitol, rallying across the street and chanting steadily for two and a half hours. A delegation attempted to meet with Gov. Phil Bredesen. After being rebuffed, they blockaded Charlotte Avenue. Police arrested 44 and threatened them with a month in jail and a $i,000 fine if they repeated their civil [image] [image caption] "Our homes, not nursing homes." PHOTO: TOM OLIN, ADAPT disobedience action. On the following day they held a long march through the city to the office of TennCare, the state Medicaid program, and then to the office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They chanted, "Free our brothers, free our sisters, free our people now!" Bredesen, a Democrat, consistently refuses to meet with disability activists. He is not a servant of the ruling class—he is a member of it. He made his $ 100 million fortune in the health care industry, specifically the managed-care giants HealthAmerica and Coventry. Tennessee's Republican senator, majority leader Bill Frist, likewise made his fortune from the Tennessee-based Hospital Corporation of America. Bredesen is a great believer in corporate medicine but not public health care. In February 2005, he told a national conference that Medicaid has "more in common with ... socialist economy than the commonsense business principles that do such a good job allocating resources efficiently in other parts of our American life." Acting on these principles, he "solved" the budget problems of TennCare by throwing 330,000 poor and uninsurable people off the rolls. In response, activists occupied Bredesen's outer office from June 20 to Sept. 4, 2005. This 77-day sit-in is believed to be the longest ever at a U.S. State Capitol building. According to ADAPT sources, 77 percent of all Medicaid funds in the U.S. are ear-marked for nursing home care, meaning they mostly go to private businesses, leaving less than a quarter for home-based services. But in Tennessee the figure is 99 percent. Contrary to the myth about capitalist "efficiency," home-based services would not only liberate the recipients but cost less per person. But they would mean less profit for the corporations, which view nursing homes as a gold mine, given the growing number of people who need assistive care due to disability or age. Protesters called for the Tennessee legislature to pass the Community Choices Act, which would allow Medicaid funds to be paid to community providers of the recipient's choice. More information, including photos and video clips, is available at www.adapt.org/freeourpeople/aar/nash06/. - ADAPT (1617)
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USA TODAY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2006 3A [image] [image caption]. By John Russell, AP [Headline] Disabled people protest [Subheading] Day 2 of Tenn. demonstration: Police arrest Crosby King near the Capitol in Nashville. About 30 people were arrested after disabled activists blocked streets to protest the state's long-term health care program.