Inside the City Council meeting Thursday, New Orleans police treated public housing residents and supporters with typical “respect.” Photo: Alex Brandon, AP

For the first time in New Orleans history, law enforcement used pepper spray and taser guns to refuse entry to peaceful protesters. Approximately 500 participants who attended an opening press conference preceding City Council's regularly scheduled session this morning were met with a show of force from several law enforcement agencies. Many were denied entry into the public proceedings, even as council chambers remained below capacity. These residents, advocates and members of the media were pepper sprayed, locked out of the proceedings and 14 were arrested.

Organizers on the ground in New Orleans are asking for supporters in the struggle for affordable housing and the right to return for all those displaced by Hurricane Katrina to:

1. Get on the phone. Call your congressional representatives urging them to support the passage of Senate Bill 1668: the New Orleans Housing Recovery Act, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committees. See call-in numbers below.

2. Fill out the pledge at www.peopleshurricane.org and COME TO NEW ORLEANS! SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY IN PERSON!

3. Spread the word via e-mail. Get the word out to your network of family, friends and co-workers. The attack on low-income and poor families is not limited to New Orleans. If we allow affordable housing to disappear during this critical time, there will be less chance for its survival anywhere in the U.S.

4. Keep updated. Visit www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org (aka www.NoDozers.org) regularly for updates!

Call-in numbers

Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana is actively supporting the demolitions by blocking the passage of Senate Bill 1668. Put pressure on him to support the bill, which would effectively stop demolition for the time being by requiring one-for-one replacement of all demolished public housing. Call his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 224-4623 and his New Orleans office at (504) 589-2753.

SB 1668 is currently stuck in the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Demand that they approve it immediately, before 4,500 families' homes are bulldozed.

Call as many members as you can: Sen. Christopher Dodd, who authored the bill, (202) 224-2823; Sen. Tim Johnson, (202) 224-1638; Sen. Jack Reed, (202) 224-4642; Sen. Charles Schumer, 202-224-0420; Sen. Evan Bayh, (202) 224-5623; Sen. Tom Carper, (202) 224-2441; Sen. Robert Menendez, (202) 224-4744; Sen. Daniel Akaka, (202) 224-6361; Sen. Sherrod Brown, (202) 224-2315; Sen. Robert Casey, (202) 224-6324; Sen. Jon Tester, (202) 224-2644; Sen. Richard Shelby, (202) 224-5744; Sen. Robert Bennett, (202) 224-5444; Sen. Wayne Allard, (202) 224-5941; Sen. Michael Enzi, (202) 224-3424; Sen. Chuck Hagel, (202) 224-4224; Sen. Jim Bunning, (202) 224-4343; Sen. Mike Crapo, (202) 224-6142; Sen. John Sununu, (202) 224-2841; Sen. Elizabeth Dole, (202) 224-6342; and Sen. Mel Martinez, (202) 224-3041.

HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson has helped to procure lucrative contracts for friends and associates with HUD-controlled housing authorities in New Orleans and the Virgin Islands. Now he is threatening to withhold funds for all redevelopment of New Orleans if demolition of public housing does not go forward.
There is good reason to be suspicious of the spending of millions of tax dollars to destroy sound structures rather than improving communities with the input of their residents. Act now to support a full and just recovery and the right to return for all who have been displaced.

Call President George Bush, (202) 456-1111; HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, (202) 708-1112; Sen. Mary Landrieu, (202) 224-5824; and Rep. William Jefferson, (202) 225-6636.

Contact the elected leaders of New Orleans to let them know what a miscarriage of justice has been done by their support of demolition:

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, (504) 658-4900; New Orleans City Council members Arnie Fielkow, (504) 658-1060, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Jacquelyn Clarkson, (504) 658-1070, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Stacy Head, (504) 658-1020, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Shelley Midura, (504) 658-1010, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; James Carter, (504) 658-1030. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Cynthia Hedge-Morrell. (504) 658-1040, CHMorrell; Cynthia Willard-Lewis, (504) 658-1050, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Send info about any solidarity actions happening to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with "Solidarity" in the subject line. If you have any questions, contact the Stop the Demolition Coalition at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us at (504) 458-3494.

Tag it:

?