No Disbaled Access AT Rolling Thunder Democracy Tour -Seattle

> Hello Rolling Thunder Democracy Tour Folks,


IS democracy for everyone but the disabled?

I'm writing to let you know how disappointed and angry I am that you did not have a shuttle that was handicapped accessible, especially since I called
and was told there would be one.

I am in a wheelchair and tried to get to Rolling Thunder and could not do so. I was told by your shuttle coordinator that I should "go take public transportation" (something you didn't think abled bodied people should have to do) while he did not know the number of the bus I should take. Rolling Thunder did not research or post on it posters what buses went to the park.

. Metro bus offices are closed on the weekend so
I could not call them to find out. I had to go to a store that I knew had
internet access and ask them to look it up as there are no system wide maps posted in Metro tunnels.

THere is one bus out to the site you chose and the bus comes very infrequently.

The very definition of disparate treatment is to have a shuttle for abled bodied folks and not have one for disabled people.

I guess it's democracy for everyone but the disabled- eh?

I guess its democracy only for those who can buy expensive wheelchair accessible vans to the tune of 25,000 each.

Doesn't that sound like the current republican administration- need help- buy it privately.

Things you could have done to make it accessible-

1- Find a site closer to town, since many buses come to Seattle, but only one came to that park in Renton and it ran only once an hour on Saturday and
it took 45 minutes to get there.

2- Simply rented a van or two and a small aluminum ramp and got people there one by one if you had to.

3- Rented a bus with a wheelchair lift.

4- Done the research and put on posters what public bus went to the site you picked. How hard is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Car dependence causes wars!

5- Not told disabled people there was going to be a wheelchair accessible bus when there wasn't one. (Sometimes you need two- one, and a spare in case the first one breaks down)

Now I am faced with a lot of choices. I could go make a complaint at the Human Rights Commission and litigate the matter.

But I am loath to sue people more on my side than not.
IMPROVE ACCESS NOW!

What I want is for Rolling Thunder to be accountable. I want commitments that in other cities you'll have a
disabled access coordinator- a paid position, so that a disabled person can tell you how to improve access and a commitment that Rolling Thunder will
gladly do what they suggest.

I want an apology and compensation for two hours of my time- wasted trying to get to you all.

I am so sick and tired of people , who think they get it about democracy and freedom stepping on my civil rights. Not to mention ignoring the ADA.

In these dangerous times all we have is the capacity to grow in our commitment to one another's freedoms. It is the only thing that will grow a movement powerful enough to counter the rise of fascism in this country.

Show some freakin solidarity, will ya!

> Naomi Finkelstein
>
> cc: Holly Near
> Jim Hightower
> Mary Frances Platt
> Laura Hershey
> Elliot Bay Book Company
> Independent media Centers Websites
> ADAPT
> Disabled queers email list
> Queer Left Email List
> Queers for Economic Justice email list
> Jewcy- Young Jewish Activists email list
> and a letter to the editor of
> Z Magazine,
> Real Change Newspaper
> The Disability Rag
> Clamor
> Sojourner, a Women's Newspaper