Death at the Court House

Post date: Apr 26, 2018 4:44:12 PM

I Saw My Life Pass Before My Eyes

It was simple business.

I entered the Federal Building in Raleigh, NC Newbern Avenue

The doors were hard to navigate, but, being with good upper body, I got in.

Inside, five security officers were waiting.

They saw me on the approach to the building.

They saw me when I was within 15 feet of the entrance.

I entered the building and declared my intentions.

I needed to transact simple business, I needed to file some court documents.

I received my red visitor pass, and transacted my business.

I was done within 15 minutes.

On the way out, I spoke with one of the security officers.

I asked, “Is there someone in charge of this facility available? ..... Someone to talk about the lack of a push button for the handicapped”.

He responded by saying “her office is right behind you, he gestured to the office in agreement to raise the issue with her”.

I went to her office and waiting as her visitors left to speak with her.

Then we began to speak. While speaking, I was interrupted by a guard. In a threatening posture, he asked why I was there. His demeanor was very threatening. I saw my life pass before my eyes.

Sir, “you said you were going to the clerk’s office”, he did not hear my exchange and inquiry with the other officer.

I committed a capital crime. I was now in the building, without a pass, in an unauthorized area, 10 feet from six five security officers and the main entrance. Wow.

The survival mode kicked in; only answer “Yes Sir ……. No Sir …… [no threatening action, or you will die].”

Although I explained the whole interaction with the other officer, he remained within two feet of me; as the other officer described it, “to protect Jeanne”.

A 6’5” man towering over a guy in a wheelchair, talking with a small framed/figured girl, whom could “just knock my wheelchair over” but needed “protection”. Hum? Something wrong here.

My life passed before my eyes. I did everything I could to mitigate the scenario. Jokes, good presentation, I needed to get out alive.

So, the question is, why in a federal building, do you have a lack of wheelchair access. No button to let the handicapped in.

The most important coming away from this whole scenario was; she answered, “We never had a person work here whom is in a wheelchair ………. And, we are grandfathered in, so we do not need to make that accommodation….”

The courthouse was built in 1969, it was called the Terry Sanford Building.

The 1973 Act Requires Programs to be Accessible. This is 2018, and you cannot enter the doors without assistance.