54 Trumpcare Protesters in Wheelchairs Just Got Arrested On Capitol Hill
Fifty-four disabled Americans in wheelchairs were just arrested by U.S. Capital Police in the Capital Rotunda. 41 women and 13 men from the organization ADAPT, which promotes rights for people with disabilities, were arrested while protesting House Republican’s health care bill, otherwise known as Trumpcare.
According to the ACLU, this bill would destroy their ability to live a normal life.
Medicaid is how the right to live independent and free is made real for many with disabilities. AHCA guts it by $880 billion #CripTheVote https://t.co/WmZZ5aIGSw
— ACLU (@ACLU) March 21, 2017
The Republican’s healthcare bill is heartless. Repealing Obamacare makes it legal to go back to charging women double for less coverage, destroys health coverage for 24 million Americans, and skyrockets what Seniors will pay for insurance while rationing their medical care.
However, the effects are even more devastating for the disabled.
Watch video of people in wheelchairs who were fighting for their lives right before they got wheeled out in cuffs:
Ho Ho hey Hey my #Medicaid has got to stay by @NationalADAPT #SaveMedicaid #No2AHCA https://t.co/TNrVvb6y5u
— Gregg Beratan (@GreggBeratan) March 22, 2017
ADAPT members are used to fighting for full participation in life, independent living, equality of opportunity, and economic self sufficiency. Their goals are to find a way to live a full life for themselves.
One member in a wheelchair had a run-in with a new cop:
Just heard the officer who arrested @ADAPTerBruce was making his very first arrest ever. Wasn't Bruce's first arrest though.
— NationalADAPT (@NationalADAPT) March 22, 2017
According to Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), “This bill could erase every right, or opportunity the disability community has gained or earned since the 1973 Rehabilitation Act…”
Thanks @SenBobCasey for talking about how AHCA undercuts decades of disability advocacy, including com integration. #savemedicaid #No2AHCA
— NationalADAPT (@NationalADAPT) March 22, 2017
Let’s not mistake this for random action. Republicans are slashing access to doctors for children, women, and the disabled so that they can give hundreds of millions in tax breaks to pharmaceutical companies, millionaires, and billionaires.
Senator Bob Casey quoted Gene Sperling’s remarks on the bill, “The 400 richest people will get a 7 million dollar tax cut because of that bill.”
Republicans are completely predictable. Any chance they get to send more money to the wealthiest Americans they will, and their budget proposal does just that.
It’s time to accelerate efforts to change Congress by voting Republicans out in 2018.
Update: ADAPT protesters are having trouble securing their release from jail.
.@SenSchumer the Capitol police won't let @NationalADAPT pay our fines an go home can you help?
— NationalADAPT (@NationalADAPT) March 23, 2017
