As governors meet, groups plan to voice concerns

By Beth Kaiman
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz said three groups havepermits to march — with the labor group Put People First estimating at least 1,000 participants; the student group Building Revolution by Increasing Community Knowledge (BRICK) hoping for as a many as 1,000 people; and the disabled-rights organization ADAPT bringing in about 400 people from across the county, many of them in wheelchairs.

Representatives of the groups said they intend to take part in orderly demonstrations, but the disabled-right organization, in particular, has been known to try to disrupt governors-association meetings in other cities.

Bob Kafka, national organizer with ADAPT, said the protest is meant to appeal to the states to support a bill in Congress to bolster Medicaid spending for community- and home-based care for people with disabilities.

"People young and old don't want to be housed in institutions," Kafka said.

The group will make its way about 3:30 p.m. Saturday from the Red Lion Hotel, down Union Street toward Pike Place Market and a 4 p.m. rally at Victor Steinbrueck Park. Kafka declined to detail plans for Sunday, when the governors are scheduled to discuss long-term health-care issues.

The student group BRICK, will rally at noon Saturday at Seattle Central Community College, Metz said, then head down to Westlake Park. Sara McNamara, who will attend The Evergreen State College in the fall, said her group objects to corporations' unusual access to the governors association through its fellows program. Other groups should be allowed similar access this weekend, she said.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich will speak at a 1:30 p.m. rally Saturday of Put People First, a group made up mostly of labor-union representatives. The rally will appeal to state governments to limit corporate influence and make health care and social services for the working class more of a priority.

After the Westlake rally, the group plans to march down Fourth Avenue and Lenora Street, and then on Fifth Avenue to return to Westlake.

Beth Kaiman: 206-464-2441 or bkaiman@seattletimes.com

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