Protesters Arrested at ADAPT Rally Against Medicaid Cuts

Approximately 78 out of more than 100 Disability Rights protesters were arrested in Washington, DC Monday. The protesters, many of which were wheelchair users, were with the group ADAPT, "a national community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action...to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom."

The protest was part of the "Defending Our Freedom Campaign," a week long rally in DC against against the Republican plan to cut federal Medicaid funding which has already caused cuts to be made at the state level to home and community-based services for persons with disabilities in order to compensate for America's debt crisis. They were also protesting against what's called "institutional bias" where necesary care services will be provided to individuals in institution but is not easily attained in the home. The goals of the protest are:

to call the on the Obama administration to act

to file complaints with The Department of Human & Health Services for the violation of rights of citizens "who have been forced into institutional settings, denied community services, or have had their community services"

to call others in the disability community to action and to demonstrate their resolve for equal rights

The protest was held in the rotunda of one of the congressional office buildings the Cannon House Office Building. The arrest started after the protesters refused to respond to the request of US Capitol Police to move. The rally kicked off on Sunday with ADAPT's 7th Annual FUN RUN for Disability Rights with Noah Wyle, who was also detained by police today, as the "Celebrity Fun Runner". The rally continues until this Thursday.

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