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Phoenix Gazette September 28, 1987

Photo by UPI (United Press International):
A very young girl (Jennifer Keelan) is framed by a gap in the backs of two police officers. Her face is full of concern but not fear. Someone's arm is beside her. Behind her a crowd of other protesters can be seen. Caption reads: Cerebral palsy victim Jennifer Keelan, 6, of Tempe joins demonstrators at protest in San Francisco Sunday.

Title: Police arrest 20 in transit protest by handicapped

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Police arrested 20 protestors outside City Hall Sunday, including one man booked for investigation of assaulting a police officer, as 500 handicapped people from around the country demonstrated over restrictive public transportation.

Hundreds of disabled people who are demanding access to public transit systems in every U.S. city have threatened to block city streets, hotel lobbies and entrances to the Moscone Convention Center through Wednesday during a national public transit conference.

“If it were women or blacks who couldn’t get on the bus it would clearly be a civil rights issue,” said Kitty Cone of Berkeley, a member of September Alliance for Accessible Transit.

An unidentified man was arrested for investigation of assault on a police officer when he got into an altercation with officers arresting protestors in wheelchairs who blocked the main entrance to the stately city building. A reception was being held for members of the American Public Transit Association inside.

“The officer fell backward and received a slight concussion when he hit his head on the steps,” police spokesman Richard Galliani said.

The other 19 people – all of whom were in the wheelchairs – were arrested for investigation of blocking a sidewalk, resisting arrest and failure to disperse, all misdemeanor charges, said Galliani.

They were transported to San Francisco jail in several vans equipped to accommodate wheelchairs.

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