[Headline] Lincoln Will Close
[Subheading] ADAPT gets a commitment from Governor Blagojevich

By Tim Wheat

[Subheading] ADAPT Action Report: Sunday, September 11, 2007.

Following a long, difficult struggle shutting down business at the James R. Thompson Center, ADAPT won commitments from Illinois Governor Blagojevich's office not to reopen the Lincoln Developmental Center, a 131-year-old institution that housed people with developmental disabilities.

It started with a long line of ADAPT activists snaking its way through downtown Chicago this morning. The police stopped traffic and kept pedestrians from crossing the march.

When ADAPT reached the state office complex, hundreds of activists rushed across the plaza and flooded the Thompson Center's atrium, leaving the Chicago Police behind. Once inside, the activists took over the elevator bays and the escalators. Although access up into the offices was limited, the expansive atrium remained busy and open to the public.

Sixteen floors above the atrium, four ADAPT activists had made their way up into governor's office; from there they could start the discussions. Other activists were stranded one floor below the atrium, but they were able to block pedestrian traffic into two walkways. The building echoed with the noise of 500 angry activists. ADAPT added colorful banners and yellow caution tape at the entrances, elevators and escalators they blocked.

By 2 p.m., much of the shock of the occupation had worn off and negotiations had stalled. Then ADAPT "bumped up" the action by blocking the rest of all the building's the entrances, including the public transit gate for the Blue Line El.

"I was standing by and noticed that there were openings," said activist Tom Benzinger. "I decided to jump in and block the entrance. Cops were escorting passengers through--but I wouldn't let them go, because I want them to have the experience of being 'locked in' a nursing home."

[image]
[image caption] Photos by Tim Wheat

The "bump-up" raised the tension and brought Blagojevich's staff back to the table. Rahnee Patrick of Chicago ADAPT told them that it was just fine to lock people with disabilities up because that is the way Illinois treats its citizens with disabilities every day. With the prospect of seeing hundreds of activists arrested, the staff conceded to ADAPT's demands.

ADAPT was in the process of another "bump-up" when word arrived of successful negotiations. The whole of ADAPT came together in the massive atrium for the announcement.

Two of Governor Blagojevich's representatives, Matt Summy and Grace Hou, stood in a sea of tired, but still boisterous, activists. Their commitments: Not only would the Lincoln Center stay closed, but ADAPT would be at the table for the Illinois Money Follows the Person and the Governor's office would meet with ADAPT before October 17.

"they wouldn't have come down here unless it was for you holding strong, sending a message that people with disabilities deserve to live in the community [cheers]," said Rahnee. "There are so many people right now in Illinois that don't want to be in those nursing home beds. Thanks for standing up for them today."

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星期二 23 七月 2013

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星期五 18 十二月 2020

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• Chicago, Fall 2007

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