Protesters block intersections around Capitol with wheelchairs

NASHVILLE — Hundreds of disabled people parked their wheelchairs in the intersections around the state Capitol on Monday, shutting down traffic to protest a lack of options for people in nursing homes.

Sixty people were arrested, Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said. Fifty were voluntarily cited for blocking streets and refusing to move, while 10 were physically removed by officers and taken to jail.

Lawmakers, state workers and legislative staffers were blocked from entering or leaving parking garages as about 400 protesters chanted slogans, held signs and camped out for several hours in busy intersections.

The protest was staged by American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, or ADAPT, and the protesters came from all over the country to complain about Tennessee’s long-term care system.

ADAPT spokesman Mark Johnson said most long-term care money in Tennessee goes to nursing homes, and that people don’t have a choice to stay in the own homes.

“We’re fighting for the rights of people with disabilities,” said Jose Lara, a protester from El Paso, Texas. “Tennessee is among the worst in providing long-term care. People with disabilities are being forced to live in institutions and nursing homes.”

The protesters chanted, “People … united … will never be defeated,” while setting up signs that said, “Our Homes. Not Nursing Homes.” One activist, Cassie James of Philadelphia, got out of her wheelchair to block a state worker’s car.

Aaron said his officers tried to be “very lenient” with the protesters. He said some moved onto the sidewalk, but others chose to be arrested.

“They have told us their beef is not with the police department; it’s not with the city of Nashville,” Aaron said. “We understand that. We don’t have any beef with them other than they can’t obstruct the passageway.”

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh said a dispute between the city of Nashville and the Tennessee Highway Patrol over who was responsible prolonged the confusion.

Naifeh said the disturbance should have been handled by the city, and he told lawmakers that “if anybody gets a ticket or gets towed, I want you to give me that ticket, and I’ll take it straight to the mayor.”

Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, is sponsoring a bill that would allow money spent on nursing homes to be used for alternative community care, such as a personal care attendant.

“There’s no question that people want to stay at home and are better served at home,” Cohen said. “It’s unfortunate that the people had to come up here in the cold and their wheelchairs to bring that home, and I think they’ve done that effectively.”

But Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen called the protest “an extreme publicity stunt.” He said he has met with the group on several other occasions and that “this has never been about a meeting with the Governor.”

“There is nothing constructive to be gained by these actions,” said Bredesen, adding that the protesters had asked for a meeting with the governor about two hours after first blocking downtown streets.

Earlier Monday, TennCare Director J.D. Hickey told a legislative committee that the state is doing what it can to provide options for people who don’t want to live in a nursing home.

Hickey and several other officials updated the TennCare Oversight Committee on changes to the state’s health care program since Gov. Phil Bredesen cut 191,000 adults from the rolls and reduced benefits for thousands of others last year to control costs.

Hickey said the state is taking steps to get federal approval for in-home services.

“We’ve already made a request to expand available slots,” he said after the meeting. “We’re now going to present a waiver to expand services.”