Meet Dennis Billups, a San Francisco native and lifelong disability rights activist. With a career spanning more than five decades, Dennis participated in the historic 1977 504 sit-ins at the San Francisco Federal Building. This act of civil disobedience was the longest occupation of a federal building in U.S. history.
As a result, long overdue regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act were signed, resulting in the first federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities. The 504 sit-ins paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the broader disability rights movement. During this time, Dennis also became a Black Panther, and he remains a proud member over 40 years later. Muni has moved Dennis all his life. Now as a Paratransit rider, he emphasizes the importance of accessibility in accessing the world around us.
We hope Dennis’ story and other Faces of Muni spotlights will inspire important conversations around accessibility. On Dennis’ story and others throughout the year, we encourage you to share why accessible transportation matters to you. You can share a comment on posts or tag us with “#MuniMatters.”