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 Ericka Reil
Vermont, first Action with ADAPT.
Day 1
I entered the hotel on the first day, not knowing what to expect. I had heard about ADAPT, I have had a friend tell me it was life changing for her but I could not fathom what that meant. I was nervous, afraid, happy and yet sad, because I didn't know anyone, I was a newbie to ADAPT, questions kept going though my head, what were people going to like me? What was I expected to do? I am from Vermont, how do I fit into all these things?
I have been watching people enter the hotel, nicely dressed, very posh. But one thing that bothers me, they stare at the people that are here for ADAPT. Is it so strange to see people with disabilities talking and socializing. But then I am from Vermont, it is strange but there is something that makes it seem like this should be the norm.
Sitting in the bar, I begin to feel energy; I am getting drunk without drinking. I feel everyone else has the same feelings that I do. Every single feeling people are scared, they are happy and I sit and drink this all up. I notice that there is a change with me. I am more free to be myself.
I met Bob Kafka tonight, I have read, seen movies, heard stories about this man and I met him. He took the time and came over to say hello to me. I know this sounds silly but when you have heard so much about someone, you think WOW, he did this why can I? It's the same thoughts that I have about Gandhi, he was one man that did so much and when you look about how much one person can do you think that, if they can do it why cant I? Why am I not that little engine that could?
I met a man tonight from Access Living, another soul that I have heard stories about. Someone that I knew just by name, it was fun. Just to sit and talk about issues that I have with the movement and with my job and then find that someone had the same issues. I began to allow myself to be me. After talking for awhile, I relaxed that it was getting late so, I went to bed to dream about what surprises lay ahead for me. But before I do that I want to answer this question? Why am I afraid of what people think? I am here; I am ready to fight screw the rest.
Day 2
It was such a long day today, hot and humid and just plain
bleehhh. I started at 8 am. Just trying to get my bearings in this place, I had a meeting for
Newbie's, at 9, so I had sometime to kill. I went down wearing my new ADAPT shirt. Prepared to get out and go fight. But first I had to wait for the people I was with in the Lobby. So I sat down, waiting. I noticed that people began to come over to me. Perhaps they were confused who I was before. People started to talk to me. Ask me the general questions about my name? Where I was from? Where did I work? It was nice to just sit there with my coffee and just talk to people from different CIL's and different backgrounds about why they were there.
The meeting started and I was very happy to find out that I was not the only
Newbie. The presenters went over the general housekeeping. All good stuff to know when going into something new. This one guy asked about getting arrested and how he didn't want too. All I could think was why the heck he was there and why fight for something that you don't want anything to be risked. After that I headed out for a cigarette.
I was talking to some people and was asked about my history with ADAPT was, I said it was my first. A guy laughed and said “virgin, huh” I responded with a “yeah.” Wheeling away laughing said well “Hope your ready to get your cherry popped.” It didn't bother me that he said that but when I told my friend about it, she laughed and told me that people in Vermont don't say that.
The walk was a ten mile march; someone just didn't measure correctly and started a rumor that it was 5. No one but the leaders knew where we were going. This was unnerving to me because usually I am the leader and I have to explain every little detail about why its important, why we need to do this, why, why, why, why I am so sick of that.
On this walk I saw the most beautiful thing. I was walking up a hill and I stopped to look back. All I could see was a line of chairs. I could compare the feelings with how I felt when my son was born or when I got married. All I could think was I am apart of something wonderful. I saw hope, I saw determination, I saw shear will most of all I saw everything that I wanted to see everywhere else. I want to take that picture and capture it in my brain and keep it there. Like the day my son was born, like the day I got married my life changed at that moment. I was not Ericka Reil from Vermont, I was ADAPT. That was my new identity. It was like a cell moving and growing with other cells. Trying to move an entire organism.
Day 3
The color groups organized today, we were divided up in our color and if we were yes or no people. I had no idea what I was getting into, well I had some idea. But nothing could prepare me for what I was about to do. We walked up to Joe Barton's office ready to enter. I went with the crowd of people that went to sit in his conference room. We waited for his staff to come talk to us. When they did, it was all lies and excuses. I never understood how people could just lie to others in hopes they will give up. We didn't after Bruce gave the cue we were chanting FREE OUR PEOPLE.
The staff looked scared; they realized we were not going to be shrugged off. They realized that the lies were what we were expecting. When the police came in with our first warning that was nothing, we chanted. That's when I was a little afraid, but when they came in for the second warning, that's when I knew I didn't care. The third warning came and we just chanted louder and faster. Then they started picking us off. I saw one color leader go and it scared me. The way they just picked him up carried him off. Then they started coming up to people in chairs. I saw some turn off their power chairs; some take the keys out of the scooters. The way the police came in trying to get people away from the furniture. I saw more and more getting lead or carried out. Then it was my turn, I was asked if I wanted to walk away or get arrested. I choose to get arrested what was the point of walking away. They handcuffed me, but as they were I kept on chanting, I walked right past Joe Barton's staff chanting right at them. I walked out and it was a blur. People were cheering the cops were holding them back. I walked into a room that was slowly being made into a temporary holding cell.
This was at 3pm at 6pm everyone was there. We were talking walking around. I talked to people about everything and nothing because there was nothing else to do. Around 1230am I was finally released. Walking to the van, feeling the fresh air on my face. But at the Hotel, I was greeted by people cheering; those that could not clapped or had whistles. I talked with a gentleman whom did not get arrested. I explained to him that I was not expecting the fanfare. He just smiled and told me that it was the least he could do. I was willing to get arrested for him; he was willing to cheer for me doing that.
Day4
I left Washington today. I had to get back to my job and my family. I hugged everyone I had met. Shared email addresses and tears. I didn't want to leave on the plane I cried. In the Newbie meeting they said ADAPT is family. Its true, as I watch the video I shot, my heart longs to go back do it again. As I promised my new family, I will be back in April.
Ericka Reil
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