In April 1977, disability rights activists staged a 26-day occupation of the San Francisco Health, Education and Welfare federal building, an event that became the longest sit-in in U.S. history. The protest was a crucial action to demand the enforcement of Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, a provision prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities and mandating accessibility in public buildings.
Despite being promised by President Jimmy Carter, the enforcement of Section 504 faced delays. Exasperated by the inaction, activists, led by Judy Heumann, occupied the federal building. Director Siân Heder's new film, "Being Heumann," chronicles this pivotal moment, featuring Ruth Madeley as Heumann.
The film, inspired by Heumann's memoir, delves into the complexities of the protest. Kristen Joiner, the memoir's co-writer, noted that Heumann's story highlights disability rights as a fundamental civil rights issue. "The world often reduces disabled people to their disability, but 'Being Heumann' depicts Heumann as fully well-rounded as she was in real life," Joiner stated.
The sit-in required significant ingenuity from the approximately 150 disabled participants who occupied a building not designed for their needs. Protesters ingeniously adapted building features, such as reconfiguring an air conditioning unit into a refrigerator for medication. When the FBI cut off phone lines, deaf protesters used sign language out of windows to communicate with the outside world. The protest also saw crucial support from other organizations, including the Black Panther Party, which provided daily meals, and the Mayor's office, which supplied mattresses and portable showers.
Heder emphasized the importance of intersectionality within the movement, noting that the film showcases the diverse needs and occasional conflicts among activists with different disabilities. For instance, while wheelchair users advocated for curb cuts, some blind activists found them challenging. These discussions, reflecting real conversations from the protest, illustrate the multifaceted nature of disability activism.
"There was plenty of arguing and in-fighting, as such a tense situation naturally breeds. But a vibrant community spirit also emerged through the protests," Heder remarked. The film also addresses the unexpected element of a "sex tent" established by protesters, reflecting the era's counterculture and the exploration of sexuality within the movement, challenging the common infantilization or desexualization of disabled individuals in media.
Eleven days into the occupation, Joseph Califano, the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, sent an assistant, Gene Eidenberg, to meet with the activists instead of coming himself. Despite the disappointment, Heumann continued to engage. After 20 days, a group of activists, including Heumann, traveled to Washington D.C. to confront Califano directly, while others maintained the sit-in in San Francisco.
Califano eventually signed the Section 504 regulations on April 28, 1977, marking a significant victory. Heumann's commitment to the cause was further demonstrated when she remained in D.C. to ensure the legislation's finalization, rather than immediately returning to San Francisco to celebrate.
"For Judy, it was all about the cause. She'd been put off so many times and told, ‘Oh, something will happen tomorrow. It'll happen. It'll happen.’ She never took people at their word until it was concrete," said Joiner. Heder noted this decision presented a narrative challenge, as she had envisioned a celebratory exit from the building, but ultimately recognized it as a profound character revelation.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed 13 years later, in 1990. Heumann continued her advocacy throughout her life, serving in government administrations and remaining a tireless fighter for disability rights until her death on March 4, 2023.