Lincoln Will Close

ADAPT gets a commitment from Governor Blagojevich

By Tim Wheat

Using direct action to augment negotiations ADAPT won commitments from Illinois Governor Blagojevich's office to close down the Lincoln Developmental Center, have ADAPT at the table for the Illinois Money Follows the Person Project and to meet with ADAPT before October seventeenth. Following a long, difficult struggle to shut down business at the James R Thompson Center, ADAPT activists were treated to a demonstration of the group's authority as officials came in person to make the commitments to ADAPT.

Matt Summy the Deputy Chief of Staff of Illinois Governor Blagojevich, and Grace Hou with the Department of Human Services stood in a sea of tired activists to make the obligations for the governor. Powerfully staged, Rahnee Patrick of Chicago ADAPT asked direct questions of the governor's commitments. The governor's staff answered clearly and concisely committing Gov. Blagojevich to items favorable to ADAPT in front of the boisterous crowd.

"They (Matt Summy and Grace Hou) wouldn't have come down here unless it was for you holding strong sending a message that people with disabilities deserve to live in the community [cheers]," said Rahnee Patrick. "There are so many people right now in Illinois that don't want to be in those nursing home beds they are forced to live in thanks for standing up for them today."

The long line of ADAPT activists snaked through downtown Chicago this morning assisted by the Chicago Police. The police not only stopped traffic, but also prevented pedestrians from crossing the ADAPT march. It is hard to imagine how the normally large and slow group of ADAPT can suddenly act instantly and with such precision as to catch the police unprepared. However, when ADAPT reached the state office complex, hundreds of activists rushed across the plaza and flooded the Thompson Center's atrium leaving the Chicago Police behind.

Once inside, the activists took over the elevator bays and the escalators. Workers came to the interior balcony to see and hear the demonstration unfolding below. Although access up into the offices was limited, the expansive atrium remained busy and open to the public. It was filled with bustling business people and loud activists. The demonstrators reported mostly support and positive reactions from the general public but some people were angry because the blockade had cutoff the food court one floor below.

Sixteen floors above the atrium, the action was sufficient to get the discussions started with the governor's office. A dozen members of Chicago ADAPT had visited the Thompson building earlier and worked not to give away their ADAPT identity to the security. This stealth was only successful in getting four ADAPT activists up to the governor's office. The others were stranded one floor below the atrium for the whole of the action but they were able to block pedestrian traffic into two walkways.

The James R Thompson building was loud in every way a building can be loud. The noise of 500 angry activists was notable all over the building and the colorful banners and signs all over the building clashed with the orange and blue interior. ADAPT added to the visual noise with yellow and red caution tape at the entrances, elevators and escalators they blocked.

By 2:00 much of the shock of the occupation had worn off and negotiations had stalled. The workers up in the office complex saw ADAPT's presence as a nuisance, but there was still access in and out of the building. ADAPT executed a "bump-up" by additionally blocking all the entrances and exits to the building.

At the entrance to the Blue Line El located in the Thompson building, Anita Cameron fell out of her wheelchair to join Tom Benzinger on the floor in an effort to block determined traffic to the transit system. The Chicago Police and CTA workers were standing in a crowd of activists attempting to allow some traffic into the station. In the constant jostling with the police ADAPT activists moved in and filled gaps until it became impossible for the police to keep the gate open. Just before 3:00 the police gave up and left the public transit gate.

"I was standing by and noticed that there were openings," said Tom Benzinger an ADAPT activist. "I decided to jump in and block the entrance. Cops were escorting passengers through - but I wouldn't let them go because I want them to have the experience of being 'locked in' a nursing home."

The maneuver raised the tension level again had the desired effect on the discussions with Blagojevich's staff. When they discussed having hundreds arrested for blocking the doors downstairs, Rahnee Patrick told them that it was just fine to lock people with disabilities up because that is the way Illinois treats its citizens with disabilities everyday.

"Its been really fun," said Jodi James, who sat blocking the back door all day. "People have tried to force the doors open - one guy came inside another door and called us names, but we just kept on holding the door."

ADAPT was in the process of another "bump-up" when word arrived of successful negotiations. Just as activists took over the elevators and escalators leading to the El, the word was passed to pull back from the doors. Those isolated on the first floor joined those from the governor's office and whole of ADAPT in the massive atrium of the Thompson Center for the pubic announcement.

"I feel good about the discussions," said Grace Hou of the Illinois Department of Human Services, who announced the commitment of Gov. Blagojevich to close the Lincoln Developmental Center. "I believe the commitment we made we had at the beginning of the day. I think we believe in the same as ADAPT."

Linda Anthony of Pennsylvania held an escalator in the atrium for about six hours. She said she was proud to see people stay all day showing their commitment, holding tight.

"It was not an ordinary day," she said.

©2007 ADAPT