ADAPT at AFSCME
The Web-guy Diary: ADAPT Action Report: Wednesday, September 12, 2007.
By Tim Wheat
One hundred and twenty-one ADAPT activists were arrested today at the offices of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The specific goal for the union to endorse the Community Choice Act was not met; however, everyone in ADAPT looked at today as a success. This is my diary from the day. I carried a notebook and I am passing my sometimes disjointed thoughts along to you with the hope that indirectly they may explain why we won.
9:33 am
I head down for the action, a little late. My excuse is that I have been up working on the website since 3:30 this morning, but I cannot help but feel bad that I am not on time. When I walk outside I see we are still lined up on the street, I am glad the group did not leave without me. I also instantly regret leaving my jacket in the room. Just before I make it to the street, I stop to talk with Steve Gold. I like that he asks me personal stuff and I notice that he knows a lot more about me than I know about him. I do know that he looks stunning in a bow tie.
9:48 am
The line of ADAPT activists moves out the same direction as yesterday. I venture to guess that the target is some Chicago office of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Everyone calls it HUD. The chant starts "accessible, affordable, integrated housing." I think HUD is a good guess, but I really have no idea.
I stood on the first corner and let everyone pass by. Gordie Hough was at the corner videoing everyone as they pass. As the last person in line got to the corner, Gordie came over to me and said that he was headed home. We had a little small talk and we shook hands, but it didn't feel right so we hugged each other. That connection to the group feels great and it is a testament to the group's family feel.
10:14 am
The font of the line enters a long underpass along Washington Boulevard. Walking out of line I pass everyone I watched pass me. In my role as web-guy I guess I get to go wherever I like. No one ever told me I couldn't and for around ten years now I just go where I want. There is a little feeling of privilege there, but for the most part I stay with the group. The Chicago Police continue to stop all traffic and prevent pedestrians from crossing the street while the ADAPT line passes. Some people are angry about that but most find another intersection or just wait tolerantly as we go by.
10:18 am
We reach the Chicago River. Typically I am taking photos all along the route; however, today I am writing this diary and not looking for graphically interesting things to photograph. Of course I saw all this yesterday.
I take a break from this journal to take some pictures. The river is nice, but does not lend to any really great stuff because it is hard to use as a backdrop for people crossing over it. What is neat is the make shift bridge-plate that ADAPT is carrying to cross the seam at the center of the drawbridge. I decide to stop and photograph us going over the seam. In ADAPT style, the bridge-plate is a piece of plywood. It works great.
10:29 am
While I am taking photos of the bridge, ADAPT surrounds a building at the corner of Whacker and Washington.
10:37 am
Chanting. Rather than rush into see what is going on, I get right in the middle of the mass of ADAPT activists and Chicago Police and let loose with some loud chanting. I suppose if I knew anything about psychology it would indicate something I am repressing, but as far as I know it just feels good sometimes to let it out. I really cannot sing, I know that for sure; but the "hey-hey, ho-ho, nursing homes have got to go," is the closest I come to singing out loud.
10:44 am
Word comes around that we have people up on the eighth floor, so the action is a bit split. We hold the elevators and I am sure that will cause the temperature to go up a bit inside. I have a three-legged camp stool so I set it up and wait like everyone else.
11:12 am
I forgot to mention that the HUD guess was wrong, and the ADAPT target is the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. They are the target because they have lost their way as an organization. They have put the interests of men ahead of the dignity of man. They feel from their shortsighted perspective that the union must support the organizations and not principles. But they are wrong. And it seems that it is ADAPT's job to show them the power of unity and the dignity of humankind.
Yesterday ADAPT won a commitment from Illinois Governor Blagojevich to close an abusive developmental institution in the state. AFSCME lobbied for it to remain open, to employ their union members and fill their coffers. Thankfully, the Lincoln Developmental Center will never open again and people will not be locked away and forgotten in that facility.
There is a lot of chanting now out on the street, but close to the doors one can hear the loud sustained chanting in the lobby. The glass and marble in the lobby amplify the chants, as well as the water bottles filled with coins that keep a constant beat on the walls and windows.
11:19 am
Word comes that AFSCME turned their backs and walked out of negotiations. The chants stop outside as people ponder what will happen next. When I was taking photos I got the feeling that something was being planned. Now from the front door, packed in with a hundred other people, I can speculate what might "bump things up," but I really have no idea. Slowly people return to chanting, those inside are going strong and I hear hand claps, but I cannot make out the chant.
11:35 am
I leave my camp stool with someone I don't know and respond to a call about action in an alley around the corner. I notice police manning a barricade at a side alley while I basically walk one block away.
When I get around to the back, the cops seem to have everything blocked off with barricades. Louis Patrick gets my attention to tell me about a really distressing story concerning a Memphis couple that ends up in a Michigan nursing home. Louis gives me a news article and says that the couple had many friends, an accessible home and insurance they thought they could count on. "They did everything right," Louis said, "but they still got screwed."
Louis told me what was happening around the back of the building. He said "they got us." The cops anticipated the move and outmaneuvered the group in the rear of the building. Louis said one police officer joked "we are competitive too, we needed to win one."
11:55 am
I still regret leaving the hotel without my jacket. I thought it would warm up but I am cold on the shady streets of Chicago. I keep moving to keep warm. Cassie James notices that I am dressed in only a tee-shirt and shorts. She is used to my ridiculous inability to dress appropriately. She pities me and offers me a sweatshirt to wear. It is great. As soon as I slip it on I can feel Cassie's warmth. The black shirt has bold pink writing on it, in all caps it says: PISS ON PITY.
11:58 am
I come across a police officer talking with Barbara and Bruce. Bruce tells me the cop said he has dealt with many protesters and ADAPT is the best. I assume that he means that we stick to the message and don't take our frustrations out on the cops. I think that is what he means, because I can see a lot of mutual respect.
12:08 pm
I have a chance to see the lobby. It is packed, wall-to-wall ADAPT. A large banner hangs over the dormant elevators and caution tape crosses the room. It is a pure ADAPT creation. The normal imposing marble and sterile business foyer design is transformed into a groovy colorful gathering of barefoot vagabonds. The style of the day is a bandanna made of the plastic caution tape. Loud and proud, the chants subsided some for lunch, but are going strong as I look in.
12:40 pm
I loop the block and return to the front with Tammy from our Boulder group. I offer to help her get some of her stuff, she and her husband Dustin have a three-year-old named Benny who needs the sun on the other end of the block. Tammy was very active with ADAPT before she set out to start a family and I think she is trying to show Dustin and Benny a little of what built her attitudes. Many people get the idea of aggression, adrenaline-pumping action as ADAPT struggles with security guards, and police. But most of the time is like it is now: expecting something to happen, but dealing with the issues of the moment.
12:56 pm
Time for more photos. As I wander around looking for something to grab my attention, Barbara Toomer tells the group at the parking lot that arrests will be made and they will start at this spot. She tells everyone what to expect, but nothing is certain. Barbara takes off to pass the news along to other groups manning the barricades and Mike Oxford from Kansas, a long-time activist comes to reassure the parking lot group. As I look around I don't see anyone that is new to arrest. I take a position where I can video the event.
The arrest is a statement that we will not move. I think it is to say that despite the talk, ADAPT believes strongly in our right to live in the community and that in this we are stronger than AFSCME. I stand with those who are about to get busted, but I doubt I am in much danger of being arrested. Cassie, who gave me the shirt will certainly be arrested. Sue, Frank and Toni who I just met are going to jail. My friend and roommate Mike is out there to get busted.
1:04 pm
The arrests are being made. I have to stop with this journal and start with the video and photos.
1:18 pm
The arrests are made quickly in the back. Everyone cooperated and moved away. I head around to the lobby to see if there will be arrests there. I see Marsha and tell her that I think about 30 people have been arrested. Right after I said that that I see Tim who got stepped on yesterday at the transit entrance of the Thompson building. He writes on my notepad that he counted 15 arrested. My guesswork and speculation are off today.
2:19 pm
The arrest portion is over, the writing of citations are completed and ADAPT is on the Chicago Streets again. I spoke with Randy who led the march back to the hotel. He said AFSCME does not respect people with disabilities nor its workers. Randy, from Memphis, wore a piece of paper on his chest that read: "I am a man," in reference to the 1968 garbage workers strike. Randy said that MLK would likely stand with us against AFSCME because of ADAPT's struggle for equality. Indeed, Martin Luther King III spoke at the ADAPT March for Justice in October 2000 where he said: "Our destinies are tied together."
Because of the increased adrenaline and getting back together the mood of the group is festive. People are joking and disorganized. Already people are telling their "war stories" from the action.
Rahnee said that AFSCME asked ADAPT to sign some statement but it agrees that people with disabilities should live in congregate settings. In other words, people with disabilities are the only kind of people that shouldn't live in their own home and it is okay to use people as commodities.
2:37 pm
On the way back we mingle with the police. One applauds us at the intersection of Whacker and Madison and the police sign-language interpreter walks right along beside me talking with our group. The single-file cannot even be imagined from the meandering group headed back.
We get close to the hotel where the next happening is the final 'big meeting.' I miss Bob Kafka. He is not at this action, I hear is has been sick. No one can frame our issues like Bob can. I feel very strongly about today's action, and I am proud of how ADAPT did not back down. Being out here in the street with everyone I am more certain that we will overcome.
