“I will not allow anyone to force me to take my chair home. God created me. I belong here. I am entitled to a seat. You can only take my place when I die and go to heaven. Until then I will fight.”
It was Rev. Dr. William Barber spoke at a press conference today about the incident in which he was asked to leave AMC Fire Tower 12 in Greenville, North Carolina after a dispute over seating.
Bishop Barber, 60, had long suffered from a form of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis. He travels with his own chair and almost always uses it instead of the seats in public spaces.
However, he said on Tuesday that theater staff would not allow him to use his special seat because there was a fire hazard. Only wheelchairs were allowed, he was told. He was asked to leave, the police were called and Rev. Barber left.
The bishop said he has since been in contact with Adam Aron, head of AMC Theatres. “I feel encouraged [by] Brother Aron, the CEO and Chairman of AMC. He asked if he could meet me in Greenville to talk in detail.”
Aron, Rev. Barber said, “made it clear that this is not the way AMC should proceed.”
“I have spoken to him several times since then. I believe that he is serious, that he is serious,” Rev. Barber told the assembled media. “It does him no good if people appear in his theatres. No CEO wants people going around making fun of his or her organization.”
Asked by a local reporter if he was ready to move on after receiving an apology, Rev. Barber said: “I have already accepted the apology. The apology is the beginning.” According to him, the next steps are to meet Aron in person and make sure that what happened to him will never happen again.
“My first goal is to meet the president directly,” the bishop announced, “because: it. Should. Have. Never. Has. Happened.”
He repeatedly referred to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 145th Amendment and also made it clear that his dispute was not about race, but about disability.
“There should never have been an escalation situation by the police. Never threatened with trespassing charges… The law is clear. Title 3 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in activities or places of public accommodation.”
When asked if he was blocking the passage, the bishop replied that he was not. In fact, he said he was previously director of human relations for the state of North Carolina and was very familiar with the relevant laws.
During the incident, he told one of the drivers: “He told me to come back with a doctor’s note.” They say they also called an armed security guard during the altercation, and one of them taunted him as he left.
The bishop made it clear that he was not to blame for the police officers, who he said apologized after leaving the theater.
Asked what he would say to Aron if they met in person, Rev. Barber said he would keep it a secret. But: “Believe me, if we don’t see a difference, there are things we can do … I have received advice and counsel.” [Civil rights attorney] “Harry M. Daniels and Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.”
“But we’re not there yet,” he said. “It’s about systemic change, about what policy changes need to be made to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone.”
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
