Philadelphia Inquirer

Wednesday, March 14, 1990

Disabled protest in D.C.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Police yesterday arrested about 75 disabled demonstrators who chanted slogans and chained their wheelchairs together in a Capitol protest to demand quick passage of a bill guaranteeing their civil rights.

The arrests came after acts of civil disobedience by the demonstrators and a confrontation in the Capitol Rotunda with House Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D., Wash.) and Minority Leader Robert H. Michel (R., lll.).

Removing the demonstrators, many of them in their wheelchairs, and loading them into vans took police about two hours.

Before the arrests, Foley told the demonstrators that he and other congressional leaders were pushing the Americans with Disabilities Act. "lt is a priority for passage in this session of the Congress," he shouted over catcalls. "l am absolutely satisfied it will reach the floor, we will have a conference with the Senate and it will become law."

“Will it be on the floor in 24 hours? No," Foley added, to a chorus of boos.

Those arrested were charged with two misdemeanors, unlawful entry
and demonstrating within the Capitol, said police spokesman G.T. Nevitt. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. In addition, those convicted could be fined $100 for unlawful entry and $500 for demonstrating in the Capitol.

The arrests marked the second day of dramatic lobbying by people with disabilities, who are seeking passage of the act.

Created on

Friday 12 July 2013

Posted on

Monday 29 June 2015

Tags

ADA, arrest, civil disobedience, House Minority Leader Bob Michel, House Speaker Tom Foley, Rotunda, US Capitol

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