Colorado disability activists have been trying to meet with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) to discuss the
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pending Republican healthcare bill, one Sen. Gardner had a hand in writing, that absolutely decimates Medicaid, leaving disabled citizens in terrifying limbo. Many will not be able to stay in their homes and could be forced into institutions if their Medicaid benefits are taken away.
Sen. Gardner’s staff refused to meet with them and these fearless activists decided to settle in for the night. Their reason for hunkering down and demanding a meeting is nothing short of heartbreaking:
When asked why they would choose to spend all night in the hallway, Morris responded, “because they spend the night in a hallway in this building or they spend the rest of their life in an institution where they’re locked away.”
The overnight protest stretched into two nights and was headed into a third when Sen. Gardner’s office and the Denver police showed up late Thursday to tell the constituents they were violating the lease by having people sleep in the building and they had to go or face arrest. They held their ground, chanting, “Rather go to jail than to die without Medicaid” and one by one, they were arrested.
Other disability advocates were outside in a show of support and caught the arrests on video. Many were chanting “Free our people!” and “Shame on you, Senator Gardner!” while the 10 activists were arrested and removed from the office:
In this interview (below) with the Denver Post, the activists explain how Medicaid allows them to live a full life, in their own homes. Without Medicaid they would “lose their value, as a human being and you are shoved away, locked away in the institution until you die.”
Great job, Senator Cory Gardner. Great job, Republicans. You must be so proud of knee-capping some of our most vulnerable citizens.