March demands accountability of Gretna police action.

[madfloridian]

http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20051107q

March demands accountability of Gretna police action
November 7, 2005

A March to Gretna in protest of the actions of the Gretna police in the aftermath of Katrina and in support of displaced African-Americans from New Orleans, who continue to be denied access to participation and opportunity in the reconstruction process is planned for Monday, November 7.

"While we honor the heroic activism of Rosa Parks, we cannot celebrate the end to racism or injustice in this country," said Reverend Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus when announcing the March on the same day that the nation buried Rosa Parks. According to organizers of the March, fifty years after a forty-two year old woman defied the denial of access to public transportation, African-Americans continue to be denied access - to the public roads and personal safety.

In the aftermath of Katrina, New Orleans authorities directed people to evacuate the city by crossing the Crescent City Connection Bridge which spans the Mississippi River linking New Orleans to the west bank city of Gretna. It's alleged that if you were black or in the company of blacks, armed Gretna police with guard dogs blocked you from evacuating New Orleans. Reportedly, under orders from Gretna Police Chief Arthur S. Lawson, the bridge was sealed off and evacuees denied safe passage when Gretna police officers fired shots in the direction of the crowds.

The March to Gretna, organized by the Hip Hop Caucus and UP (United Progressives) for Democracy, will commence with a rally at the New Orleans Convention Center. It is expected to attract Howard Dean, Chairman, Democratic National Committee; Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, and Congressman John Conyers.

Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) plans to introduce legislation calling for accountability. "We are outraged by the behavior of the Gretna authorities. Our legislation will challenge their actions, deny federal funds to the Gretna police for one year and seek justice for affected citizens of Louisiana," says McKinney.

[daleo]

1. This story does demand investigation

I am glad someone is looking for a full explanation.

[pitohui]

2. this is a case of a man can't win

while i have little use for jefferson parish public officials (& that's understating my position wildly as i think they are a gang of criminals on a par w. the ex-kgb running wild in vegas) then their constituents would have their heads on platter if they had allowed outsiders into the parish after they had already been evacuated from their homes & told they could not stay

if it was unsafe for the residents of gretna, louisiana, then it was unsafe for a foot army of people who had no supplies or homes to stay in

you would not want, after being forcibly removed from yr home, to hear that strangers were allowed to come in, break in, and live there

ppl won't evacuate in future if their homes are not kept secure

answer to this question, i don't have one but walking to gretna was not going to solve anything, there was no electric there etc.

these people should have been properly supplied at the superdome, convention center, etc. not ordered to go on the bataan death march because FEMA couldn't be arsed to supply them

but there were no doctors, food, water, etc. in gretna either

i don't blame nagin either for telling them to go, you can't keep ppl if you have no food for them, FEMA fucked him over too

but i don't think promoting infighting between our local officials is our best option now

the failure was federal

drownie brownie said he'd sent a medical team etc. to the superdome, he didn't send it, that's the issue, the lies on a FEDERAL level

the local infighting is a distraction & a neat way to divide us in my humble opinion

[madfloridian]

3. I've heard that argument. It does not fly with me.

I went through the eyes of 3 huge hurricanes last year as they crossed our state. The feeling that no one is there is overwhelming when you lose power, and all of life's amenities you have grown used to having.

It is a lonely feeling, a helpless one. If anyone had said they would send us away or shoot over our heads for wanting help or wanting to be safe......I would never have forgiven them.

Our government failed us, but the people of Gretna refused to help their fellow man with simply letting them cross the bridge.