This picture made me happy. We took over and took on HUD. Two people were arrested, both walking. Apparently, the DC police think that disabled people can't make decisions by themselves. Does the word "DUH" (which is HUD backwards) mean anything to them?
We parked in front of the doors as per usual, but the blocked the street and garages, too. I blockaded a garage ramp. Then they got HUD rent-a-cops to stand between us and the on ramp. You see, the knew we wouldn't hurt actual flesh and blood beings, even if they were cops. But plenty of us, me included, was still pissed about the deceit from yesterday and therefore, absolutely willing to make them drag us and our heavy power chairs away. I think they may have hurt themselves, but as my assistant says "Idiocy should hurt." I'm quite sure some of those men are going to have sore places where they never knew they had muscles.
Eventually they pulled me away, but I give it a good try. Then I held up a sign and chanted for awhile. Then Secretary Donovan give us a meeting and we left, as promised.
Onward and upward, a new Wednesday activity looms. We usually go to the Hill on Wednesdays, but not apparently tomorrow. Exciting! Exciting!
Flushed from our 2-0 day yesterday, I didn't even mind (much) getting up at 3:30 in the morning. Hell, if justice comes one day sooner because I get up at 3:30 in the morning, I'll do it for a year. I had no idea where we were going. Unless you're one of the elite few, you never know, although experiences people have a guess or two as we march familiar routes. But in my 15 years of involvement with ADAPT, we've never marched to the Hilton Washington, but we did today because Speaker Pelosi was there. We wanted to ask her why she didn't support the Community Choice Act (CCA). Apparently, there was even a group of women with disabilities who wanted to especially try to meet with her because she has always said that she is for women's issues, but not co-sponsoring the CCA helps neither disabled women or women who are caregivers. It leaves both groups high and dry. For myself, I thought Nancy was going to be a better speaker than she is turning out to be. I am disappointed as I'm sure most of my gender is in her performance thus far and not just on this issue.
We began the day at 1t 5:30am, hoping we could intercept Nancy en route to speaking at the American Hospital Association annual conference. But according to reports I have gotten, I wasn't in the area to see the Speaker, so I can't swear that it happened. Pelosi fled when she saw ADAPT assembled outside the Hilton to meet her. May I ask what the Speaker of the House who has armed protection 24 hours a day has to fear from 500+ non-violent mostly disabled protesters. I've been an ADAPT for almost as long as I've been an adult. We are no threat to anybody.
Sam Donaldson came to the event as well. He was much more helpful than Nancy. He seemed interested in what we had to say and even gave us Speaker Pelosi's office number. Not that I'm telling you what to do, but should you want to contact Pelosi to inquire as to why she ran away from non-violent protesters who were merely inquiring into her reasoning and decision-making, feel free to do so. Here is the number 202.225.4965. If you call, thank you in advance.
I'm glad that all we're doing tomorrow is going to Capitol hill and having a press conference and meeting. I honestly don't think my poor body could handle a 3:30am wake-up. Although, as I've said I will if I have to. I'm looking forward as always to the party which commemorates the end of of every action. But I'm said that I'll be going back home to Massachusetts where I have no one to discuss this work with.
We took over and took on HUD. Two people were arrested, both walking. Apparently, the DC police think that disabled people can't make decisions by themselves. Does the word "DUH" (which is HUD backwards) mean anything to them?