State Police Deny Delivery of Food and Water to Tenncare Advocates

[struggle4progress]

Day 37: Southern Christian Leadership Conference Denied Delivery of Food and Water to Tenncare Advocates

Nashville, TN: Representatives of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were denied the opportunity to deliver a package of bottled water and some food to demonstrators who have been occupying the State Capital for thirty seven days. Dr Dwight Montgomery, of the Memphis Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said the actions of the Governor's Office represented a gross violation of the human rights of the Tenncare Enrollees, many of whom are in wheelchairs. The ministers were stopped at the entrance to the State Capital and told they would be allowed to enter the building, but that they would not be allowed to bring in food or water. When they asked if State Employees were allowed to eat and drink inside the State Capital, the police said yes, but then a spokesperson for the Governor's Office replied that they only ate and drank in "private areas" and that the lobby where the protesters have been camped out for thirty seven days is a "public area" and therefore they cannot have food or water.

The demonstration was held on the 15th Anniversary of the signing of “The American’s With Disablitiles Act of 1990.” A group of disabled citizens from Memphis and Nashville inside the State Capital were waiting in hopes that they would receive fresh supplies of food and water from the Memphis ministers.

Randy Alexander, who is with Memphis ADAPT, and has been staying at the State Capital for several days, said he was denied almost complete access to food and water. "They said we could bring in a single portion for one individual for one meal. Well if we are going to stay overnight or for the weekend and we are determined to be here for that long then it is kind of hard to be here. It is not that we can't, it is not that we won't, it is just that we are trying to secure food and water for people who are coming here. I think the Governor's office is behind this, it is a tactic to make us not be here this weekend. The Governor's office is behind this decision. My personal assistant back in Memphis is already having some health issues - her health is getting worse because she can't get access to her medications. She is having to choose between going short on food and getting her medications. She is starting to have problems with holding her employment because of this." <snip>

Dr. Dwight Montgomery said that representatives of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference came with some refreshments to give to the protesters because they have been able to give them to these people previously. Montgomery said that, "We know that employees in this building partake in food and beverages. We were denied the opportunity to bring these items in. Our position is that this is a violation of their human rights. It is cruel. It is inhumane. These are persons with disabilities, and particularly with this being the fifteenth anniversary of the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act, and for them to be denied refreshments when they are carrying on a legal battle is just most certainly wrong." <snip>

http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/6423/index.php

[Horse with no Name]

1. When will everyone understand

"The Kill-ture of Life"?

[noamnety]

2. What constitutes a "private area" in a State Capitol?

Who pays for those?

[ikojo]

3. The pro-business corporate

lobbyists....

[tnlefty]

4. Another great day to be from TN!!!

I understand that Sundquist royally mishandled the funds of this state, and TNCare, also, but this just makes one proud.:sarcasm: The people in this state voted against the vastly superior, native son, Al Gore, and then turned around and voted for Dimson** again despite the cuts to this state during his first term.

I feel no sympathy for the Dimson** voters who are being cut from the rolls, but this just looks bad, and it is bad. I wish Bredesen had the guts to come out and tell the truth about this situation.