A member of the Denver City Council who uses a wheelchair tried to lift himself onto a stage at a debate this week, since the venue lacked an option accessible for wheelchairs.
The debate for the city’s District 10 council seat was held Monday afternoon at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, a dance school. Councilmember Chris Hinds told USA TODAY that, after he arrived at the venue, an organizer proposed lifting him onto the stage. But Hinds responded that his wheelchair weighs 400 pounds alone, and he weighs “almost another 200.”
“And they said alright, well how about you get out of the wheelchair, and we’ll just lift the chair up?’ Hinds added. “They gave me a chair that I could cling on to so I’m not just laying on stage.”
“I felt like a circus monkey,” Hinds said. “Just there on display for everyone to do whatever.”
Video of the moment, taken by filmmaker Vince Chandler, shows Hinds trying to pull his legs onto the stage as people approach him and his wheelchair. Hinds gave USA TODAY permission to publish the video.
Hinds, who called the incident “humiliating,” eventually shifted back into his wheelchair, and organizers decided to have the debate in front of the stage. Approximately 100 audience members attended the event
“I was so rattled at that point,” Hinds said. “My mom watched the debate leader, and she said ‘I don’t even recognize you.’ I was just so different because it was just so demoralizing.”
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‘Why representation matters’
Hinds in a statement earlier this week said he had to participate in the debate, or he would “forfeit $125,000 in Fair Election Fund money.” Denver voters in 2018 approved the Fair Elections Fund, which requires candidates to go through debates to receive public campaign funding.
The Denver Office of the Clerk and Recorder said in a Wednesday statement that “Candidates receiving Fair Elections Funds must appear at the debates sanctioned for their races.”
The office also explained that debate sponsors were “required to fill an application stating that they meet basic requirements including ADA accessibility.” The dance school submitted an application that was approved, according to the office.
The Americans with Disabilities Act “protects the civil rights of people with disabilities in many aspects of public life,” according to the Department of Justice. Employers, state and local governments, businesses open to the public and other organizations, companies and providers are all required to follow the law.
Denver Clerk Paul López added in the Wednesday statement that “No one should have that experience, and I have apologized to Councilman Hinds personally.”
Malik Robinson, the executive director of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, also apologized in a statement shared on Facebook on Thursday.
“This incident was an important and visceral reminder that accessibility, in many forms, is critical for all members of our community,” Robinson said.
Hinds said he’s “thankful” for the apologies following the incident.
“It’s very kind of them to use this as a moment of reflection. I hope we can all use this as an opportunity for making our community better for everyone, including people with disabilities,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for us to realize why representation matters,” he said. “Our democracy is stronger when it’s representative of all the people.”