1977: “Patient No More” Kitty Cone’s Victory Speech

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ3kcSgAX-w

Kitty Cone was one of the many leaders of the 504 Sit-In in California in 1977. The 504 Sit-In, as briefly talked about in the introduction, was over a span of two weeks. The sit-in was a large group of empowered individuals with disabilities who gathered to fight for their civil rights and their future in the United States. The video above is Kitty Cone’s “Patient No More” victory speech after the sit-in was successful in getting Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act passed. Her speech was originally an audio recording, but was translated to a video of the speech in American Sign Language by the Longmore Institute on Disability in order for those who are hard of hearing. This speech is vital to the history of disabilities in this country because it highlights the nations most beautiful moments. When a group of people comes together, support each other while fighting for a common goal. Not only was the sit-in a successful form of protest, it helped create important change for this community and even more importantly, individuals with disabilities proved they can stand up for themselves and their people in order to create this change.