WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1997
• The Region
CRIME & JUSTICE
THE DISTRICT
64 Arrested in White House Protest for Disabled
• Sixty-four people, most of them in Wheelchairs, were arrested yesterday
afternoon after chaining themselves to the White House fence during a
demonstration to promote legislation for the disabled, U.S. Park Police
said.
The protesters -- members of Americans Disabled for Attendant Programs
Today -- were arrested about 3:20 p.m. and were charged with demonstrating
without a permit, Sgt. Michael Russo said.
They were booked on the scene and released. The charge carries a maximum penalty of $500 and six months in jail.
The nationwide group is pushing for a bill, Medicaid Community Attendant Service Act which would allow eligible disabled people to hire attendants to provide care at home or in a setting such as a school, workplace or church.
The legislation was introduced in June by House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).
About 350 disabled people staged a sit-in Monday at the Rayburn House Office Building, demanding that a hearing date be set for the bill. After 3 1/2 hours, the chief of staff for Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.) agreed to arrange a hearing to take testimony by the end of March. Bilirakis is the chairman of the House Commerce subcommittee on health and environment.