Discover the story behind the protest that changed disability rights history.
For many in the disabled community, April 5, 1977, is a special day to remember because it played an important role in shaping the rights that disabled people have today.
On that day in San Francisco, a group of about 150 disabled people walked into the Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Federal Building and asked the federal government to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first major federal civil rights law protecting disabled people from discrimination.
Over the next 26 days, protesters inside and outside the building rallied for disability rights, bolstered by a broad cross-section of supporters, and their efforts produced real change. Today, in celebration of July’s Disability Pride Month, we’re taking a closer look at the 504 Sit-In, the activists behind it, and its impact.
Once the activists made their way into the HEW building, they refused to leave for almost a month, despite being threatened with arrests and eviction, as they demanded that HEW Secretary Joseph A Califano Jr. grant their requests.
Among the key organizers of the 504 Sit-In were disability rights activists Judy Heumann, Kitty Cone, Brad Lomax, Mary Jane Owen, Corbett O'Toole, and Hale Zukas, but they were not alone. The sit-in was unique for the high level of support protesters got from throughout the community with their outreach committee gathering community support from religious groups, civil rights activists, labor unions, and others.
Protester Brad Lomax was a member of the Black Panther Party and enlisted their help to feed protesters throughout the month. This help was consequential. Corbett O’Toole remembers “the most critical gift given to us by our allies was the Black Panthers’ commitment to feed each protester in the building one hot meal every day. ... Black Panthers saved the 504 Sit-In.”
Other groups lending support included the Glide Memorial Church, which partnered with the Black Panthers to provide the meals; the Gay Men’s Butterfly Brigade, which brought walkie-talkies into the HEW building so protesters could communicate with the outside world after phone lines were cut; and the United Farm Workers, who supplied food, medicine, and resources during the protest.
Different groups uniting for the 1977 protest demonstrated coalition-building in action, long before the disability justice movement championed this practice, and the results were quick and tangible. Two weeks into the protest, a group of activists traveled to Washington, D.C., to increase pressure on politicians, and after 26 days of protest at the HEW building, Califano agreed to sign and implement Section 504 to provide better access and accommodations for disabled people in federally funded programs and activities..
As Disability Rights Florida explains, “The HEW Section 504 regulations established the basic operational principles that became the basis for legal compliance with the ADA.” The Americans with Disabilities Act would be signed more than a decade later, in 1990, granting protections to disabled people across the public and private sectors.
The 504 Sit-In is unforgettable not just for its important role in helping the ADA become law, but for showing the impact of intersectionality and disability solidarity. The sit-in's success was made possible by a broad coalition of people who brought different perspectives, lived experiences, and expertise together in pursuit of lasting change for disabled people.
During this Disability Pride Month, we’re remembering the powerful actions of our forebears, and the indelible impact they made with the 504 Sit-In. We are also inspired to draw on their example as we continue building this movement with people from all walks of life. Just as the protesters did in 1977, we continue to work to show that all disabled people belong. Everywhere.
At Relay Resources, the philosophy of intersectionality and diverse perspectives is fundamental to our approach to disability inclusion. There’s no better expression of this than with DisabilityNext™, our annual summit and initiative bringing together a diverse range of people, including futurists, thought leaders and innovators, to work together to advance the movement of disability inclusion in the workplace. Learn more about how to join this movement this fall.