The Roving Activist’s Blog

Word on the street is that a total of 94 ADAPTers were arrested at today’s actions. After the Senate side non-arrestees were reunited with us from the House side, we relaxed with a lunch of the traditional ADAPT steak, aka McDonald’s hamburgers. We then decided that the time had come to take our demands of CCA in health care reform to the Capitol. Many of us who were left crawled up the steps of the United States Capitol. We chanted, “Community Choice Act NOW!” “No reform without CCA!” We unfurled several banners, and made it to the middle of the steps, where there was a chain. We did not go past that. Mike and Cassie made rousing sppeches about why we were there because we were bringing our demand that there be no health care reform without the Community Choice Act!

I must say that it was a VERY powerful sight! Of course, the police moved in quick, and even though we were willing to make a path so that others could enter, they insisted that since were were more than 25 people, and it was a unsanctioned demonstration, we had to leave. They were ready to get the ball rolling for arrests, so after some words to the crowd from Mike Oxford, we lined up and headed back to the hotel.

More later!

We’re out here at New Jersey and Independence, where we took over the intersection.The six teams split into two groups, one taking the intersection closest to the Senate side, and the group that I am in taking over on the House side. Quicker than you could say Free Our People, the cops were on us, the warnings were issued, and the arrests began! I had decided to stay back, since I was one of the 91 from yesterday, so handed out flyers and talked to folk on the street.

For those wondering why we chose where and what, we targeted the entire Congress because passing the Communty Choice Act, and getting long term care into health care reform is quite literally, a matter of life and death!

While my group was swept up practically at the speed of light, arrests are proceeding at a snail’s pace on the Senate side, so those of us who weren’t busted are hanging tight.

Stay tuned!

We’re up and at ‘em again! ADAPT is headed to our target, where we’ll be working to FREE OUR PEOPLE!!!

More when we get there!

As the title says, I, and hundreds of ADAPT folks are chained to the White House fence!
The meeting went terrible. They have no intentions of including long term care in health care reform. They’re all about getting insurance for people, but not freeing people from nursing homes and other institutions. Seems like there’ll be no change during this administration for people with disabilities.

I’ll keep you posted!

We are here at the White House, where some of our folks are meeting with White House staff to let them know that we want health care reform to include the Community Choice Act. Obama says that its time for a change, and he’s right-the institutional prevalent in our long term care systems. Long term care MUST be included in the health care package being hammered out by the administration as we speak, it MUST come in the form of the Community Choice Act!

We’re chanting loud and proud, “Our homes, not nursing homes”.” O-B-A-M-A! We want CCA today!” “Hey hey, ho ho, nursing homes have got to go!”

I’ll keep you posted.

It’s 6:30 am, and I, and several Rochester folks are hanging out, preparing for the day. Other ADAPTers coming down, too. I’m getting psyched! More later.