Multiple disability-rights demonstrators arrested on second day of protests

Little Rock police work to determine the appropriate charge before arresting ADAPT protesters Tuesday afternoon on Capital Avenue. Police said four of the demonstrators refused orders to leave the street.
Little Rock police work to determine the appropriate charge before arresting ADAPT protesters Tuesday afternoon on Capital Avenue. Police said four of the demonstrators refused orders to leave the street.

Multiple members of a national disabilities-rights organization were arrested in different parts of Little Rock on Tuesday, the second day of the group's protests in the city.

Police reported four protestors were arrested along Capitol Avenue near Izard Street as the group, many in wheelchairs, headed west toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross' campaign office.

Others were arrested during a demonstration around the same time at 500 Pleasant Valley Drive, where Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson's campaign office is located.

The exact number of arrests there was unclear. Police initially said 21 were arrested, but later said there may have been fewer. A leader of the protest at Ross' headquarters reported to the other demonstrators that 15 were arrested at the alternate site.

Police on scene of the Capitol Avenue arrests said the four who were arrested had refused orders to get out of the street. Little Rock Police Department Sgt. Cassandra Davis said the west Little Rock protestors were likely accused of criminal trespassing, though she did not have details on the exact charges.

All were expected to be cited and released, Davis said.

The protesters are members of ADAPT, a national grass-roots disability rights group, and are asking gubernatorial candidates to consider the Community First Choice Option for the state, which would allow Arkansas to move about 2,900 people with disabilities off a waiting list for home-based services.

The group arrived at Ross' campaign headquarters at Third and Ringo streets, packing the inside and taping up streamers and signs in favor of the Community First Choice Option in Arkansas.

Several minutes after they arrived, a spokesman for Ross emerged, thanked the group for coming and read a statement from Ross.

In the statement, Ross said he will work with the group “to empower Arkansans with disabilities so that they have more choices, not less.”

The statement also said Ross will work with legislators to “continue advancing the goals outlined in the Community First Choice Option in Arkansas” and will create a disability-rights work group.

The ADAPT group, who cheered at times as the statement was read, left Ross’ office about 12:30 p.m. and gathered in the parking lot behind it.

J.R. Davis, Hutchinson's spokesman, said Hutchinson was not in Little Rock on Tuesday and was therefore unable to meet with the protesters.

"Specifically regarding the arrests: We did not call the police; they followed the individuals to our office, and we would direct any other comments regarding the protests to the [Little Rock Police Department]," he said in an email.

Tuesday’s march follow’s ADAPT’s march to the state Capitol on Monday, when they asked to Gov. Mike Beebe to consider the option.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more on this story.

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