I was there . . .
Cassie James
Atlanta, 1990
Cassie James reads her narrative.
It was October 1, 1990 and the first National Action on our new issue: FREE OUR
PEOPLE. 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. We were determined to change all that and I was there in
Atlanta Georgia where we let the federal government know that there was a battle
going on to redirect 1/4th of the Medicaid funding to assist people to live in
there own homes. And us ADAPT Activists were the foot soldiers.
The Target was Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of HHS, we were forced to take
extreme measures since he ignored our phone calls and letters. Two Hundred
activists, many in wheelchairs, headed to Morehouse College historically known
to support civil rights of all people. Also it was where Dr. Louis Sullivan had
founded a medical school when he was the College President.
ADAPT wanted President Leroy Keith to support ADAPT’s redirection demand. We
explained that we need Attendants’ in the community not incarceration in Nursing
homes. Oddly enough, he didn’t seem to take us seriously and all he offered was
a referral to meet with the regional Director of Medicaid. This did nothing to
support our position. So with 60 ADAPT members inside and about 140 surrounding
the outside of the administration building, we decided not to leave. The ADAPT
members on the outside sent food, battery chargers and other stuff that was
needed to the people inside the building and we remained strong for 42 hours.
The college staff left while we were there and were quite shocked to find us
there in the morning. Now the problem really was how we get out of here!
What we decided was to try and get the students to support our position and many
of us took off to the cafeteria where we could freely talk to the students.
Meanwhile the ADAPT people on the outside had left early Tuesday morning to hit
the Georgia Health Care Association (GHCA), which was the local nursing home
lobby; pretty much making the same demands and not getting very far. In fact,
they were locked out of the building, but took control by surrounding it and
shouting: “Just like a nursing home, you can’t get out.” At Morehouse College
some of us were working hard to convince the students to support us so we could
come together again with all our folks.
Finally, after a lot of us working to convince those students that we didn’t
want to destroy their college or damage its reputation. That we just want to be
free to live in the community, just like most of them already did and that this
could only happen if we got attendant care services into the community. A decent
number of Students decided to support our position and we joined a press
conference together. And off we went to join the other action.
Well, The GHCA Director Mr. Watsen refused to discuss are demands, he tried to
escape with the police. As the police accompanied him to his van he found we
already had it surrounded. He was forced to take a ride home with the police and
ADAPT decided to withdraw.
Luckily Dr. Louis Sullivan was on a talk show. Some of our members called in
with our position on what needed to happen so disabled people could get
attendant services. Sullivan made it quite clear he supported states rights. I
guess it was okay for us to continue as cash cows.
The last day we marched in Unity down Martin Luther King Drive to the B Russell
Federal building. People Honked in support of ADAPT. Once again we found locked
doors so we blocked off entrances. We were warned to get off or face arrest. It
took three hours to arrest 60 of us. They brought in MARTA buses and filled them
with us. The Judge did arraignments right on the bus and dropped us off at the
hotel. I partied all night with my new friends.
It is amazing when you look back because we have already won a quarter of the
Medicaid funding. Now all we have to do to get more then we dreamed of in the
beginning: to get the Community Choice Act passed. Many people are already free
because of our push. The people United cannot be defeated.
Will you be there when we win this one?
FREE OUR PEOPLE.