You will probably be disabled at some point in your life (if you haven’t been already). 

The Disability Rights Movement displays just how important local and statewide organizing is and how it can ignite national movements. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law thirty-six years ago, which guaranteed civil rights for millions of Americans, but how did that happen? Long-term, relational local organizing in Denver, CO. 

In Denver, buses didn’t have wheelchair ramps, making them completely inaccessible for wheelchair users. That made being part of the community and the ability to get around the city on public transit impossible for many physically disabled people. Imagine how isolating, expensive, and dehumanizing that is. So the group of 19, a group of disabled Denver residents, organized an action that would ignite the disability rights movement. 

On July 4, 1978, they blocked two of the city’s buses at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Denver all day and all night, chanting, “We will ride!” until city officials were willing to talk about the absence of wheelchair accessible buses.

The police didn’t even have accessible vehicles and didn’t want the bad PR for arresting the disabled members of the Gang of 19, so they arrested two personal care attendants instead. Neither of them were protesting or disabled; they were there to assist the people in wheelchairs. The government was effectively saying, disabled people don’t deserve their own movement. 

They successfully sued the Denver police for selectively enforcing the law, which violated the protesters’ right to equal treatment, and the charges against the attendants were dismissed.

Because of the Group of 19 and the Disability Rights Movement, we all have a right to be part of our communities, and now it’s up to us to defend that right.

We cannot and will not stand idly by while the Trump administration moves toward institutionalizing disabled people. According to the CDC, more than one in four adults in the country report having a disability, and all this failed administration sees is dollar signs. Yet again, the Trump administration is working for the ultra wealthy few who would profit off of our bodies. 

Who owns these private institutions? The same billionaires and large corporations who are benefiting from exploiting us through owning private prisons, private hospitals, ICE detention centers, and more. They profit, and all working people, regardless of party pay. Our independence, our freedom, our ability to be in community with others, and our autonomy are at risk.

The Pennsylvania state legislature needs to invest in Medicare and Medicaid to ensure Pennsylvanians with disabilities can live independently in their homes, not in institutions. We need revenue to pay for the care that we need, and to raise it, we need to pass the Tax Billionaires, Fund PA revenue platform. Our legislators have a decision to make. Will they choose their constituents, the people of Pennsylvania, or the wealthy few?

It’s up to us to put the pressure on our state legislators. Call them, email them, and when we head to the polls this fall, we need to elect working-class champions who will vote to fund these vital resources we need. Are you ready to vote on November 3rd?

In solidarity,

Edwin, Hannah, & Magnus: PA Stands Up Comms Team