Disabled advocates move to Sam Nunn building; protest HHS

By Christian Boone and Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A group of disabled advocates who forced their way into the State Capitol on Monday spent Tuesday morning in the courtyard of the Sam Nunn Federal Center, again calling for better long-term care options.

It was their second stop of the day, having started at 9:30 a.m. at Centennial Park. At 1 p.m. they will meet with Gov. Sonny Perdue's chief of staff.

Police on horseback as well as federal officers patrolled the courtyard, arresting a handful of protesters. Officers from the Department of Homeland Security refused to say how many were arrested and whether they were just temporarily held, referring those questions to a spokeswoman in Miami.

The protesters, representing ADAPT, a national organization of disabled activists, seek state compliance with the Supreme Court's 1999 Olmstead decision, which mandated better long-term care options for the disabled. The group included activists from 30 states. Besides going to Georgia and other states, ADAPT members travel to Washington once a year as well, ADAPT spokeswoman Barbarann Bongiovanni, from Alpharetta.

"We have 6,000 people in nursing homes who want to come out, but there's not enough waivers," Bongiovanni said, referring to people she said can live on their own but need a nurse or another attendant for help.

"There may not be that much that they need," she said.

Bongiovanni said the group would remain in the courtyard until they could meet with Roosevelt Freeman, the regional manager of the federal Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights. Late morning, a small group was inside, trying to negotiate a meeting.

Around 12:20, the front doors of the Sam Nunn building opened, and Freemen, along with other HHS officials, came out. Freeman said he would agree to meet with a group of 10 ADAPT members Wednesday at 1 p.m.

The crowd errupted in cheers, then began chanting "the people, united, will never be defeated."

Bongiovanni said they would protest again Wednesday, but she did not know where. On Monday, the group sneaked in through the handicapped entrance of the Capitol after marching from the CNN Center at around 8:30 a.m.