504 Sit-in (apr 11, 1977 – may 4, 1977)

Description:

"In 1977, Joseph Califano, U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, refused to sign meaningful regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which was the first U.S. federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities. Califano issued orders that no meals or medication would be allowed in the HEW federal building to force them out. The protesters then contacted Delancey Street Foundation and The Salvation Army, which agreed to bring them food for the following day. Fellow protester Kitty Cone developed a way to keep medication cool by taping a box over the air conditioner unit to store the medication of the disabled protesters.

Additionally, the protesters received support from the Black Panther Party after receiving a call from Brad Lomax a disabled protester with multiple sclerosis and member of the Black Panthers Party. Lomax called the Black Panthers to support the protesters with meals, and the Black Panthers brought them hot meals and snacks for the duration of the Sit-in. After an ultimatum and deadline, demonstrations took place in ten U.S. cities on April 5, 1977, including the beginning of the 504 Sit-in at the San Francisco Office of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. This sit-in, led by Heumann and organized by Kitty Cone, lasted until May 4, 1977, a total of 28 days, with about 125 to 150 people refusing to leave.[19] It is the longest sit-in at a federal building to date.[20] Joseph Califano signed both Education of All Handicapped Children and Section 504 on April 28, 1977.

Added to timeline:

Date: