Gang of 19's Civil Disobedience Won Transit Rights

Nearly 50 years ago, a group of disabled individuals in Denver, known as the "Gang of 19," enacted a significant act of civil disobedience. On July 5, 1978, they surrounded and blocked two city buses at a busy intersection, demanding that Denver's transit agency equip buses with wheelchair lifts. This protest, lasting through the night and into the next day, was a pivotal moment for disability rights.

The protest was organized with the help of Wade Blank, a former nursing home worker who had witnessed deplorable conditions and advocated for disabled individuals to live independently. The "Gang of 19" aimed to secure the basic right to ride public transportation, a symbol of American civil liberty. Their non-violent resistance presented a unique challenge to law enforcement, as arresting individuals in wheelchairs proved difficult.

Ultimately, the transit agency agreed to install wheelchair lifts on over 200 buses. The "Gang of 19" then formed the core of ADAPT, a disability civil rights organization. This group continued to use civil disobedience across the nation, advocating for accessible transit and other rights, which were later enshrined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.