Disability activists' protest against Medicaid cuts ends Thursday

July 21--A group of disability activists camped near the El Paso Republican Party headquarters in West El Paso began to pack up tents, tables, chairs and other belongings Thursday.

Members of El Paso Desert ADAPT, a grass-roots disability group, had been camping at the end of Paragon Lane off North Mesa Street in response to the Better Care Reconciliation Act, a Senate bill aimed at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. The activists, many of whom are disabled, were concerned that the GOP-sponsored bill could potentially cut and cap Medicaid benefits to the disabled and their caretakers.

In a news release Friday, ADAPT members said the protesters had been issued a warning from El Paso police to evacuate the street by 6 p.m.

"We were intending to leave today anyway; we've already done what we intended to do," ADAPT organizer Josue Rodriguez said. "The bill is stalled, so this is a victory for us. Our intention was to bring awareness to the cuts and caps to Medicaid and how it would affect people."

He added, "We've been here for three weeks. Supposedly, they were evicting us for our safety. We've been out here, like I said, for three weeks without any problems, without any issues with anyone; no issues with any of the other businesses around here. On the contrary, we've had a lot of community support, which is fantastic."

The health care bill stalled in the U.S. Senate earlier this week when two Republican senators, Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas, announced their opposition.

Rodriguez said that he did not know what prompted police to issue the warning Friday.

About 30 protesters held signs, chanted slogans and talked about how Medicaid cuts would affect them and their loved ones while they waited for the deadline.

Just before 6 p.m., members of the El Paso Police Department were parked in a nearby parking lot, but left the area shortly after the deadline when ADAPT members began packing up the camp.

Police returned around 6:30 p.m. and spoke with protesters, who informed police that they would be leaving the area and thanked the officers for helping to keep them safe during the duration of the camp.

"We thank the Police Department for understanding that we're fighting to protect our civil rights and fighting to defend our freedom, because Medicaid is life and liberty for people with disabilities," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said that now that the health care bill has stalled, ADAPT will continue to raise awareness and advocate for people with disabilities.

El Paso County Republican Party Chairman Adolpho R. Telles said that the protesters had "disrupted, abused and assaulted" members at the party's headquarters during the protest.

"The protesters have been here for two weeks in violation of the law," Telles said. "It's not right. It's unfair to certain citizens and it's been ignored. They've been allowed to violate the law until today."

Dave Acosta may be reached at 546-6138; dacosta@elpasotimes.com.

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