With estimates of over 700 in participation, the annual march and rally of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) from the Grand Hyatt Regency to the U.S. Capitol reflecting pool was both loud and proud,... and at times quite wet!
Marchers held signs with the names of states indicating from where each group in the procession came. "NCIL Marshals" kept order and directed the masses along the path to the Capitol, some using megaphones to signal new chants marchers shouted as they walked and rolled. "Hey hey, ho ho, nursing homes have got to go!"
"What do we want?"
"Freedom!" (Access, health care, equal rights)
"When do we want it?"
"Now!"
"Freedom!" (Access, health care, equal rights)
"When do we want it?"
"Now!"
It wasn't long after the march began that the wind picked up and the rain fell hard. A few umbrellas went up but for the most part, the marchers went on, undeterred by the heavy rainfall.Pedestrians and tourists looked on, some offering encouraging thumbs up or claps or shouts of encouragement. Employees watched over the street from office windows in high-rises throughout the march.
Once having arrived at the Capitol reflecting pool, marchers ate box lunches and waited in anticipation of Members of Congress to come address the crowd.
Approximately an hour after the march began, NCIL President Kelly Buckland welcomed the crowd before introducing Andrew Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), who opened with a chant ("What do we want?" Crowd: "Freedom!" "When do we want it?" Crowd: NOW!") before speaking on the ADA Amendments Act (H.R. 3195), legislation recently passed in the House now pending in the Senate that would overturn several damaging Supreme Court cases that have made it extremely difficult for people with disabilities to win cases of employment discrimination. 
Sandy Finucane (Epilepsy Foundation), Randy Johnson (U.S. Chamber of Commerce), and Nancy Zirkin (Leadership Conference on Civil Rights) also spoke in support of the bill.
Sandy Finucane (Epilepsy Foundation), Randy Johnson (U.S. Chamber of Commerce), and Nancy Zirkin (Leadership Conference on Civil Rights) also spoke in support of the bill. 
Following their remarks, Kareem Dale, the Obama campaign's new Disability Vote Director, addressed the crowd and spoke on Senator Obama's commitment to people with disabilities. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) addressed the crowd next, expressing his deep commitment for Senator Obama's bid for the presidency and how he believes an Obama White House will make significant improvements for people with disabilities.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a long-time champion of the rights of people with disabilities, spoke next, and emphasized four pieces of legislation that he wanted grassroots support for during 
Capitol Hill visits that were scheduled to take place after the rally. Those items included the ADA Amendments Act, the Community Choice Act, the Promoting Wellness for People with Disabilities Act, and doubling funding for independent living centers across the country. Several other speakers made remarks before the rally broke for Hill visits beginning at 1:00 PM, ET.
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MORE PICTURES FROM THE MARCH & RALLY:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
I wish I was there :(
Posted by: Meg | July 22, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I wish I was there too :-( I miss the march!
Posted by: Mona | July 23, 2008 at 01:22 AM
I WAS there and it was great! The rain was not a deterrent, it made the march more fun and meaningful!
Posted by: Kelly | July 30, 2008 at 12:33 PM