1. the protest was in front of McConnellâs office (which he wasnât actually using, btw - he was in some meeting to continue pushing the AHCA through) to draw more attention to the matter at hand.Â
2. peaceful civil disobedience (which this was, as corroborated by all accounts including video evidence) does not invite the violence with which this was met. there was blood on the floor. people were removed from their mobility aids; some were dropped. where is that okay?Â
3. ADAPTers did not contest their arrests. ADAPT as an organization has a long history of peaceful civil disobedience, which comes with arrests and often charges. they - we - are contesting the manner in which they were arrested.Â
4. the police doing their job is always an act of violence. the police enforce violence as a way to maintain the status quo. violence is only condoned and excused by capitalism when it is self-serving, as in this case.
5. changes do indeed come by annoying the person who can change things. when that person seems without conscience for what theyâre doing wrong, sometimes thatâs the only way changes come.Â
also, people need to stop reblogging the inaccessible version of this fucking post, please and fucking thank you.
[Image descripton (courtesy of @deafchildcrossing, thank you) :
Image one: twitter post by kristenwilsonkeppler (TheOtherKeppler) saying âprotest outside @senateMajLdr office, chanting âdont touch medicaid, save our liberty!â with an image of a crouded hall, most people in wheelchairs or seated holding signs.
Image two: twitter post by Jordan (JordanUhl) saying âsickening. Protesters dragged from @SenateMajLdrâs office
They rely on Medicaid. Many are disabled #NoCuteNoCaps
The image under it shows 5 police officers all carrying a man
Image two: twitter post from jordan as well saying âProtester ripped from her wheelchair and carried off. #NoCutsNoCaps #StopTrumpcareâ the picture under it shows a girl being pulled off by four police officers.
Image three: twitter post from Jordan again saying âCapitol police escorting a protester away. #NoCuteNoCapsâ there is a police escorting a woman in an electric scooter and reporters surrounding the area behind them.
Image four: twitter post by John ARavosis (Aravosis) saying âthis is the seminal image of our battle. Sheâs being arrested for protesting ACA repeal outside McConnellâs office.â image of a police escorting a girl with a mask over her face out of the area.
Image five: a screenshot to show the full image that was in image four. It shoes a girl with a breathing mask in her electric wheelchair holding a sign that says âMedicaid life + Liberty 4 disabled Americansâ
Image six: twitter post by Jordan again saying âCapitol police Arresting Protesters Who rely on rely on wheelchairs. They dropped one. #noCuteNoCapsâ there shows four images of the crowed room. There are four officers and a lot of people with electric scooters, one which has noone sitting in it, but the image isnât focusing on any particular thing .
Image seven: twitter by Collen Flanagan (CollenFlanagan) saying âbillinaires wotn protect disability rights #ADAPTandRESIST laid down in protest. Instead of listening, they arrested us.â the image shows three people lying down. One person beside their scooter and two others above them. One person is standing off to the side. Description end.]