Action Report

The Supreme Court Security was so unbending with their rules, they would not allow the professional sign language interpreters stand on the lower steps so they could be seen by the crowd. No doubt that there was a peaceful demonstration going on, but the interpreters were only doing their job, and were not part of the demonstration. Still, those in authority would not make this reasonable and simple accommodation.

All ADAPT watched as the Deaf community demanded and got an accommodation. Supreme Court security provided a folding chair for the interpreters to stand on, and the rally continued. The bigoted attitudes and unreasonable behavior of the officers, reinforced the need for the protections of the ADA. ADAPT marched off to the Republican National Committee Headquarters with renewed vigor to continue the fight.

ADAPT had shut down the building by 4:30 in the afternoon, about the time the staff planned to go home or to a gala and watch the Boston Presidential Debates. ADAPT had two demands for the RNC:

1. Sign the pledge to preserve the ADA, and

2. Meet with ADAPT before November 7th.

Negotiations proceed slowly as word is passed to the Bush campaign on the road in Boston. The Republican Party had broken their promise with ADAPT to include an ADAPT speaker at the convention in Philadelphia. The Republicans lied when they said they would include "Real Choice" language in the Republican Party Platform. Advocates were very cautious to take the word of any one associated with the Republican Party.

Just after 5:00, the trapped throng of Republicans had found some escape routes from the RNC headquarters. Some had crawled out a window 10 feet off the ground, others had made their way through an overhead walkway to the Capitol Club next door went out a basement door and climbed gas pipes and an iron fence to the street level.

ADAPT closed these gaps and a long pause followed. Through the windows, ADAPT advocates could see the staff milling about the posh dinning room of the Republican elite. The Associated Press reported that a fund-raiser had to be canceled.

At one point an aluminum ladder was brought out for people to climb out a second floor window. Approximately six people made it over the ladder, the Capitol Police advised them not to, but did not stop those desperate enough to risk a 15 foot fall.

With negotiations stalled and ADAPT willing to stay all night and beyond, the police made a decisive well-planned move. Bringing in reinforcements of approximately 30 more officers, buses and a dozen vehicles, the police rushed the north entrance.

The police formed barriers to prevent other ADAPT members from strengthening an isolated group of 10 advocates blocking the second-level entrance on the north side of the Capitol Club. The police came in quickly with a "siren show" at 8:30 and by 8:45 Republicans were streaming out their single open entrance. As the Republicans scurried into the police shelter, ADAPT chanted: "People are dying, shame on you." ADAPT had prevented more than 60 Republicans the access to the community they are denying 2 million locked in nursing homes and institutions.

With advocates surrounding an empty building, ADAPT moved out. Although the negotiations had not resulted in any Republican concessions, ADAPT headed back "loud and proud." Everyone had fought well at the RNC, and now activists were going back to their communities to spread the word. ADAPT did not win, but the Republicans lost the opportunity to sway the votes of 54 million Americans with disabilities. The Republicans had lost the opportunity to show that they really are the party of inclusion and the Republicans lost the opportunity to get ADAPT off their backs for a while.

- Tim Wheat