[Headline] Disabled activists continue their protest
[Subheading] No arrests reported; 5 demonstrators meet with state Medicaid official
BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU

COLUMBUS Protests on behalf of the disabled continued to plague state offices for a third day yesterday, but this time the chants and street theatrics weren't accompanied by arrests.

"We're ADAPT! You're trapped! Get used to it!" about 100 members of the activist group American Disabled for Attendant Pro-grams Today shouted as they pro-tested for two hours outside the downtown Riffe Center.

The building houses the offices of Governor Taft, Speaker of the House Jo Ann Davidson, and many state agencies.

A Franklin County temporary restraining order prohibiting pro-testers from blocking the entrances of state government offices remained in place. About 118 were cited for violating that order during a protest at the Riffe Center Monday and 97 were arrested Tuesday at the nearby Rhodes Tower.

The Ohio Highway Patrol guarded the doors of the Statehouse yesterday in case the demonstration moved across the street.

The activist group has been pushing for more money to promote independent living by the disabled as an alternative to nursing homes and other institutional. settings.

A patrol spokesman, Sgt. Gary Lewis, confirmed that no arrests were made.

State Sen. Mike Shoemaker (D., Bourneville), assailed the police reaction to the protests earlier in the week, calling it "militia-like."

"To present such massive display of law enforcement power to intimidate disabled citizens who just want to live as independently as possible is a classic over-reaction on the part of those who want to hear no problems, see no problems, and speak about no problems," he said.

The state figures damages from the protests have cost taxpayers $9,327.

Damages include carpet and plants outside. the governor's office because of urination by pro-testers as well as several locks on revolving doors, said Paul Krimm, general manager of the two buildings.

Five ADAPT members members did meet with Barb Edwards, deputy director of the Department of Human Services' Medicaid office, department spokesman Jon Allen said.

Mike Eakin, 37, a Toledo man suffering from muscular dystrophy, and his wife, Shona, 30, who has cerebral palsy, said they were among those detained and photographed by troopers this week, but they were not cited.

"I want to be able to continue to live in my own home and not be forced into a nursing home," said Mr. Eakin, who uses a wheelchair. "If they cut. off the assistance they're talking about cutting off, I may be in a situation where I may have to go to a nursing home."

Although discussions had been held about a meeting with Governor Taft, none materialized. He was in Cleveland yesterday.

"At this point, we're more interested in the safety of state employees and the people who have business with the state," he said. "Their behavior shows they're less interested in meetings than they are in media."

ADAPT is expected to leave Columbus today. Many of those from outside the state don't plan to stick around for their Franklin court dates, beginning Monday. Michael Auberger, ADAPT's national organizer from Denver, Colo., said the organization has made arrangements with a local attorney.

Created on

Thursday 18 July 2013

Posted on

Friday 6 December 2019

Albums

• Columbus Ohio, fall 1999

Visits

263

Rating score

no rate

Rate this photo