“Free Our People” Rally Demands Action
On September 17th, 2003, over 500 disability advocates gathered
in Washington, DC 's Upper Senate Park to challenge lawmakers
to act on legislation that will allow all Americans to receive
long term care services in their own homes, instead of being forced
into nursing homes as they are under current Medicaid policy.
The Rally, organized by ADAPT, a national grassroots disability
rights group, was the culmination of the 144-mile, four-state,
14-day Free Our People March from Philadelphia to the Capitol.
Marchers called for passage of the Medicaid Community-Based Attendant
Services and Supports Act of 2003 (MiCASSA) and Money Following
the Person legislation, a call for real Medicaid reform instead
of block grants, and full implementation of the Supreme Court's
Olmstead decision. |
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The marchers were joined by a host
of lawmakers including MiCassa Senate sponsors Tom Harkin (D-IA)
and Arlen Specter (R-PA). Representatives Danny Davis, John Shimkus
and Dennis Moore together took the stage to rally support for MiCASSA
in the House. Each insisted that everyone keep pressuring Congress.
Rep. Moore borrowed the guitar that Elaine Kolb had carried on
the march and sang “This Land is Your Land.”
To find out
more about how you can help support MiCassa, click
here.
To see more photographs of the March and Rally, click
here. |
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