FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (UPDATED 2011-06-25 1:13 AM CDT)
ADAPT MN Presents Free Our People Award to Governor Mark Dayton
SAINT PAUL, Minnesota (June 23, 2011) -- ADAPT Minnesota presented its first Free Our People Award to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton during a short ceremony at the Governor's office during the afternoon of Thursday, June 23. Around 50 individuals, families, and allies were present; many wearing their standard red shirts to show their support for the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.
After a few brief presentations, including the sharing of Jim Carlisle's personal story and Claudia Carlisle's personal story, ADAPT Minnesota thanked Governor Dayton for vetoing several finance bills that would have created significant harm throughout Minnesota. Plus, ADAPT expressed support for him to continue standing firm for a fair budget that isn't balanced on the backs of individuals and families experiencing disability.
Although the Governor was unable to attend, Dan Pollock, Dayton's Policy Advisor, shared a letter from Governor Dayton. Then, the group presented the Governor with a few tokens of appreciation, including a standard red ADAPT t-shirt displaying an individual in a wheelchair breaking free of shackles and chains with the logo "Free Our People".
Although the Governor was unable to attend, Dan Pollock, Dayton's Policy Advisor, shared a letter from Governor Dayton. Then, the group presented the Governor with a few tokens of appreciation, including a standard red ADAPT t-shirt displaying an individual in a wheelchair breaking free of shackles and chains with the logo "Free Our People".
As Darrell Paulsen pointed out, "Throughout the legislative session, Governor Dayton stood up for us. Another great example of his understanding and fight for civil rights happened earlier this week when he expanded the list of critical services from the one he had submitted to the court earlier. He expanded the list to be sure that the organizations we rely on for personal care assistance, homecare, transportation to our medical appointments, and so on would get the payments they need to pay their employees so they can continue delivering the services we depend on." Paulsen is a disability rights advocate and nonprofit executive who experiences the effects of cerebral palsy. He relies on personal care assistance, public transportation, and special transportation to help him ensure that his health, safety, security, and dignity needs are consistently and reliably satisfied.
ADAPT Minnesota is statewide chapter of a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, that may or may not include civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom; equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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