PHILADELPHIA
Cops harass Mumia's disabled supporters
By
Sharon Eolis
Philadelphia
It was no small victory when a contingent of disabled
activists reached the Millions for Mumia rally in Philadelphia
April 24. Disabled communities in the Northeast had organized
to come in buses and vans. Some traveled hundreds of miles to
show their solidarity with political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
But police harassed these organizers and denied some of them
accessible transportation in the city.
Millions for Mumia coordinators worked hard to make the
demonstration accessible. This included putting the stage near
an access ramp and providing an area at the front for people in
wheelchairs, the hearing-impaired and others. Volunteers
translated both the youth rally and the main rally into sign
language.
Organizers met with officials from SEPTA, the local public
transportation system. Millions for Mumia demanded para-transit
vans to ferry disabled activists from Veterans Stadium, where
the buses parked, to the City Hall rally site. SEPTA agreed
that the vans would pick people up at the stadium.
During the morning, SEPTA vans picked up disabled activists
across the street from the Veterans Stadium parking lot. Others
who arrived later in the day reported having to travel much
longer distances to reach accessible transportation. Some were
dropped off blocks from the rally site because police had
closed the area to all traffic--even disabled-accessible
vehicles.
Philadelphia is notorious for being non-compliant with
federal laws mandating accessible public transportation for the
disabled. SEPTA trains are totally inaccessible and most buses
are not equipped for disabled passengers. The para-transit
buses provide very limited access for the disabled
community.
Several vans were scheduled to transport disabled
participants along the march route.
However, police refused to allow the vans access to the
area. Some disabled activists joined the march in wheelchairs,
on crutches or in walkers. Others had to stay at City Hall.
While police made it difficult for disabled activists to
fully participate in the demonstration, their presence was
strongly felt as part of the broad spectrum of support for
Abu-Jamal.
Brian Shea, a Boston Millions for Mumia organizer who is
disabled, told Workers World: "Through the actions of SEPTA and
the cops, the ruling class has issued a direct challenge to the
disability-rights movement.
"They have said to us, `You better not show support for
Mumia Abu-Jamal and other political prisoners. We will make it
as difficult as we can for you to show support.' In spite of
any obstacles, we will return once again July 4 to show our
solidarity with Mumia."
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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