San Francisco 504 Sit-In: History Of Disabilities Activism Shared In Exhibit At Santa Rosa Junior College

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Santa Rosa Junior College and the Sonoma County Spinal Cord Injury Support Group is hosting from Oct. 14 - 21 a traveling exhibit entitled “Patient No More: People with Disabilities Securing Civil Rights.”

The exhibit, which will be in the Lawrence A. Bertolini Student Center on SRJC’s Santa Rosa campus, tells the story of how more than 100 people with disabilities occupied a federal building in San Francisco for nearly a month in April 1977 to gain their civil rights. Supported by groups including the Black Panthers, the protesters emerged victorious after a 26-day occupation.

The exhibit was created by the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University in 2015 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA has a deep grassroots history forged by disability rights activists in the Bay Area since the 1960s.

On Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 12 noon, author HolLynn D'Lil will share her first-hand experience of living inside with occupiers of the Federal building during the sit-in, and covering the story forMs. Magazine. She will read from her book, Becoming Real in 24 Days. She is a Graton resident, an author, disability rights activist and painter.

The exhibit is free and will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Parking permits are required and available for $4 on campus lots.

To request a sign language interpreter for these events, please contact the interpreter’s office at SRJC Disability Resources one week prior to the event at(707) 521-7934 or adreamer@santarosa.edu.

The organizing committee for the exhibit is Sonoma County Spinal Cord Injury Support Group. Sponsors include Santa Rosa Junior College, SRJC Adapted PE Program, Canine Companions for Independence, Accessible Mobility Center, Community Foundation of Sonoma County, and the Ophoenix Public Benefit Corporation. To learn more, visit patientnomore.org.

Images via SRJC: Anthony Tusler in front of the “Patient No More exhibit” at Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley, during its 2015 run; iconic photo of the 1977 sit-in taken by Anthony Tusler; HolLynn D’Lil of Graton will talk at SRJC Tuesday, Oct. 18 at noon, about her experience covering the sit-in for Ms. Magazine.

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