Disability rights activists cause partial WH lockdown
A group of nine disability rights activists handcuffed themselves to the fence surrounding the White House on Monday afternoon, briefly causing a partial lockdown of the residence's north grounds, according to a Secret Service spokesman.
Several of the activists were in wheelchairs or motorized carts, the spokesman said.
One man was arrested for disorderly conduct and assault against a police officer, the spokesman added.
The protest did not affect President Barack Obama's mid-afternoon departure from the South Lawn aboard Marine One. Obama was headed for a Democratic fundraiser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The protesters, the spokesman said, belong to an organization called ADAPT, which works to draw attention to disability issues.
ADAPT, according to its Web site, is "a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom."
The group says it is fighting "so people with disabilities can live in the community with real supports instead of being locked away in nursing homes and other institutions."
- CNN's Dan Lothian and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.
Wow CNN, had to throw in the "The protest did not affect President Barack Obama's mid-afternoon departure from the South Lawn aboard Marine One. Obama was headed for a Democratic fundraiser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." One with think that Barack was wearing his Campaigner-in-Chief hat today...Although I have to say, I am getting really annoyed that instead of tackling the problems of our Country right now, he is spending more time campaigning. Bush did vacations...and Obama does campaigns. How funny! Why hasn't anyone done an analysis on the comparison of the two Presidents? Any Republicans on the board up for the task?
They should make a visit to Rand Paul's headquarters.
They should protest against those dang right wingnuts in both houses of congress who just say "No!"
Get Real – most likely they have and they will again.
GO ADAPT – NO ONE should be locked away without a fair hearing and that is happening to people living with disabilities. It's not right or fair as they can be active members of our socieity and actually contribute to the community instead of being a drag on resources by being thrown into nursing homes.
The Obozo administration and liberal groups are paying them handsomely, they have nothing else tod do or else they will screw up their welfare checks, so they block things. Look behind the scenes, you will find the corrupt SEIU, AFSCME and NEA groups (they are actually to lazy to do it, the hire people) and Soros type of drug addled brains, that want to get home in time to watch Oprah. You notice Obozo was not affected in the slightest, just people trying to work and pay their taxes, so these lame brains can steal more money.
I don't know of anyone who would want to live in an institution with no freedom as to what to eat, what time to get up, when to go to the bathroom or what to wear. The Community Choice Act will affect all of us at one time or another. The temporarilly able-bodied among us will not be in perfect shape forever. We need to hold Obama to his campaign promise to support community choice and end the institutional bias in insurance programs. It is much more economical to provide the necessary care in a home and community setting than to provide 24/7/365 care in a nursing home. ADAPT is speaking up for all of us.
Washington DC Insider – Bush also campaigned so that time would have to be taken into account!
There were a lot more than 9 protesters. Maybe several hundred? There were 9 arrested. See NationalADAPT's tweets.
Are you a Internet Newb or what Washington DC insider? One simple "bush vs obama vacation" google search brought
"According to one count, Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush spent more time on "vacation" during their first year than President Obama did. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton spent less time on "vacation."
From Factcheck.org but im not sure if you will find that reliable since its not Fox News (LOL news...).
Yeah ADAPT! Taxpayers need to be aware of how our government "entitles" people to the more costly taxpayer funded institutional care, but doesn't entitle a person to have the less costly and more benefifical community based services. This is a human and a civil rights issue and this funding bias that forces people to be put away and costs everyone more must end! Thank you ADAPT for all your hard work!
I've worked with people protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act. These people have strong advocates, where are they or have they not been informed.
Kinda puts the term "hell on wheels" in a whole new perspective.
ADAPT rocks! That "assault" wasn't true. They r dedicated to nonviolent social change. If it werent for ADAPT, there would be no ADA or accessible buses transport. As a nonviolence trainer trained by Arun Gandhi grandson of the "GANDHI"- ADAPT is an awesome example of grassroots social change agents with more success than any group I know. Rock on freeing our people!
This disability issue is very close to my own heart for several reasons~My beautiful Mother was past 90 N sharp as a 20yr old but had severe problems walking~because I was able to get in~home help for her~in my home because I traveled in my job~she was able to be at home safe&cared for AND LIVING~she made all my ph calls~pd my bills&kept track of my banking! She had something to get up for everyday!Remember it costs aprox$60,000a yr for a nursing hm and about $12,000 to keep a person at home!The Govt has to have tax money to do this~and we will all need services one day!
Gee what do they hope to gain by chaining themselves to the white house. Obama is for the bills for the disabled. they ought to chain themselves to the legs of the republicans they are the one voting against all these bills. Now that would get some attention. Maybe because the press would have to post about that, after all a republican would be involved. They don't hardly post anything about Democrats and them trying to get bills and laws passed but can't get pass republican obstruction. I think they should try to get the rules in the senate changed and throw out all those stupid filbuster and 60 vote majority. I bet if the republicans were in charge and the Democrats did this not only would the MSM mess their shorts continually the republicans would change the rules. In the words of the infamous quitter YOU BETCHA.
There is also another reason that I am concerned about the Disability issue~I worked over 35yrs and got sick in my 50s an had to retire~Believe me,You WANT that Soc Sec Dis to be there after you work&pay for it so many yrs!And SS Dis has NOT been cut back~thats nonsense!When I had to apply the 1st thing the man sd was"my~you hv worked hard~an that will mean a good SOC SEC ck now that you need it!"PLEASE DO NOT LET ANYONE TAKE AWAY YR RIGHT TO SOC SEC OR RAISE AGE TO 70~OR CUT BACK THE CKS!DO U THINK THSE FOLKS TALKING ABOUT THAT COULD LIVE ON A$1000 a MO~the average ck!?AND HV $300 mo out for Medicare!?I have 401K but those things are not safe enough to put all yr $ in!YOUR SOC SEC IS YR RIGHT DONT LET IT BE TAKEN FROM YOU!~YOU PAY FOR IT SO THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT NOT TO BE THERE FOR YOU~unless yr$ are used for OTHER THINGS!