[title] "Don't Tread on the ADA" Rally
May 12, 1999

I am proud to be with you today. Because I know I am with some of the greatest architects for civil rights and social justice in America today. I want to specifically acknowledge great leaders such as Dick Thornburgh, Justin Dart, Pat Wright, Mike Auberger, Paul Marchand and Stephanie Thomas, and all the other tremendous advocates gathered here today.

With your ideas your energy and your commitment, you have torn down the walls of exclusion. You have broken down the barriers of segregation. And you've built stronger communities and a better America for ALL.

When I look out at so many familiar faces, and many great friends, I'm reminded of our past shared struggles, our setbacks and our victories on the road to freedom for people with disabilities. I'm reminded of the power we have as an organized force in tearing down the barriers. And I am reminded of how proud I am to have been to be by your side as we passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. And , and then protected the ADA, IDEA, and our fragile network of community based services and supports from those who would attack them.

But we are not here today to talk about yesterday. We're here to talk about tomorrow. We here to talk about the future. And we are here to say loud an clear: We aren't going back. We are going to keep moving forward.

And the key to moving forward and building a better America for all is to keep saying yes.

Created on

Thursday 18 July 2013

Posted on

Monday 9 September 2019

Albums

• The Olmstead v. LC & EW Supreme Court Decision, June 22 1999

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