Once inside, we unfurled our huge banner that read “State Schools/Nursing Homes: Hell No We Won’t Go”.
1992 – Chicago – Anita Cameron
Something that had bothered me before during other actions became even more apparent during those three days: The tendency that we have to demonize officers that are obligated to arrest us, and in this case, to provide our personal assistance.
1991 – Orlando – Deborah Cunningham
When I got home from the action, I told my friends that this had been the greatest and coolest experience of my life and that “we have got to do this here at home”. Kansas ADAPT was born and I never looked back.
1991 – Baltimore – Mike Oxford
No longer would activists with disabilities hold back the anger felt about our brothers and sisters being locked up in institutions, used as cash cows and forgotten.
1990 – Atlanta – Cassie James
I was determined to work to overcome the injustices of discrimination and create more positive opportunities for myself and for others with disabilities.
1990 – Washington – Michael Winter
It blew my mind when I first saw hundreds of disabled folks gather at one common place to fight for one common cause: The choice and freedom to ride the bus.
1989 – Atlanta – Beto Barrera
We marched from Independence Hall as its bells rang at 4:00 pm on the eve of our historic case. We marched through cobbled streets chanting: “Access is a civil right,” and “We will ride.” We march for justice.
1989 – Philadelphia – Erik Von Smetterling
We were taken away in – accessible school buses. We always found it ironic, they could make these school buses accessible, but not mainline buses? Get real!
1989 – Sparks, Nevada – Stephanie Thomas
I have been protesting for disability rights since I was 9. (Yea, I’m the first ADAPT kid). You know, I was only 16 years old, so I don’t remember everything; I am only telling what will NEVER leave my memory.
1988 – Montreal – Tisha Cunningham
This action sticks in my memory because of the comic overreaction of the police.
1988 – St. Louis – Mike Ervin
On the first day we went to the San Francisco City Hall, 500 people stretching the six blocks through the hills of San Francisco.
1987 – San Francisco – Claude Holcomb