[HPN] [NH_ADAPT] Protesters at Bush Mansion.

[William Tinker]

2-15-2000
***FORWARDED FOR EVERY ONES ATTENTION IF THEY ARE INTERESTED***
Bill

From: "Pete Eldredge" <phixr@concentric.net>
 
 
 -----Original Message-----
 From: Justice For All Moderator <jfa@metrocil.mwcil.org>
 To: justice@jfanow.org <justice@jfanow.org>
 Date: Monday, February 14, 2000 23:21
 Subject: Protesters at Bush Mansion.
 
 
          
                       Justice For All
 
                       jfa@jfanow.org
 
                  Protesters at Bush Mansion 
 
 PRESS CONFERENCE AT COURTHOUSE ANNEX
 
 DISABLED PROTESTERS APPEAR FOR PROTEST AT BUSH MANSION
 
 The 17 disabled protesters who were arrested at the 
 Governor's mansion last February head to court on 
 Tuesday February 15th at the Travis County Courthouse 
 Annex.  At 12:30 pm they will hold a press conference in 
 the courtyard between the Annex and the Courthouse at 
 11th and San Antonio Sts.
 
 The 17 were among those protesting Governor Bush's 
 states rights stance in opposition to the federal civil 
 rights law the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA.  
 Governor Bush, despite repeated pleas from the 
 disability community, refused to take Texas' name off a 
 Supreme Court amicus brief filed on behalf of states in 
 the case Olmstead vs. LC and EW.  Although 25 states 
 originally had signed onto the amicus brief, all but 
 seven eventually removed their names.  Texas, under 
 Bush's leadership, was one of the seven who staunchly 
 refused to give up their pro-states rights, and anti-
civil rights stance.
 
 Ultimately the Supreme Court ruled, in June of 1999, 
 that the state of Georgia discriminated against the 
 plaintiffs LC and EW by unnecessarily segregating them 
 in institutions even though the state's own experts had 
 said the two women would be better served in community 
 settings.  The Olmstead decision, as it has come to be 
 called, is considered by many the Brown vs. Board of 
 Education for the millions of Americans who are 
 unnecessarily segregated in institutions, nursing homes 
 and similar large congregate facilities.
 
 According to the Health and Human Services Commission, 
 as of September 1, 1999 there are 98,000 disabled 
 Texans in institutions.
 
 "If the right to liberty is not worth protesting over, 
 it is hard to imagine what is" said protester Stephanie 
 Thomas.  "Almost a decade after passage of the ADA, 
 thousands of Texans still can not exercise that right 
 because this state refuses to do the right thing."
 
 "I was in a state school for 30 years" added JT 
 Templeton.  "Now I live in my own home, with attendant 
 services.  I fight for others to be able to be free."
 
 Bob Kafka/Stephanie Thomas     
 512-442-0252 or 512-482-8543
 

 Fred Fay
 Chair, Justice For All
jfa@jfanow.org
http://www.jfanow.org                    
 
 Register to Vote Online at http://www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm
 
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