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(MEMPHIS, Aug. 8) Members of Memphis American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) blocked buses from leaving the downtown terminal for 45 minutes protesting Greyhound Line's buying inaccessible buses. Memphis police arrested seven for criminal trespass.
Protesters demanded that Greyhound stop purchasing inaccessible buses, and that the CEO of Greyhound Line Inc., Craig Lentzsch, meet with national ADAPT, apologize, and work to publish Department of Transportation regulations as specified by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
Memphis downtown terminal manager Jeff Brown apparently sent the demands to the Dallas office, but was unwilling to take any action locally to meet the demonstrators demands. Similar actions took place in 40 cities around the U.S.
No buses left the terminal during the demonstration, although only one bus was physically blocked. Other protesters distributed leaflets saying "That dog don't hunt," and explaining to riders that Greyhound opposes adding lifts because they desire special treatment and hand-outs. Lifts on over-the-road buses are a practical, affordable accommodation according to the Office of Technical Assessment. Accessible technology adds only 1% to the operating cost for the life of a vehicle.
"We are asking that Greyhound do business with all American's," said Tim Wheat of Memphis ADAPT, "excluding people with disabilities does not make them more economically viable."
The arrests allowed the bus scheduled for Birmingham to leave about 30 minutes late. Protesters were arrested but not cited. Dawn Russell refused to move hiding the key to her powered wheelchair until the police said that refusal to move would result in a further charge of resisting arrest. A sign on the front of Ms. Russell's scooter read:
"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men." - Abraham Lincoln.
The Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-6404 v/tty (901) 726-6521 fax
mcil@mcil.org
MCIL is a United Way of the Mid-South member Agency
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