On April 10, the International Alliance of Inhabitants (IAI) formally adopted New Orleans, Louisiana, as the latest site for its global Zero Evictions Campaign. IAI is particularly dismayed over the recent demolitions of public housing in New Orleans, especially as they violate international human rights. The 2005 storms displaced hundreds of thousands of people, who consequently were entitled to the human rights protections defined by the U.N.’s Guiding Principles on the Rights of Internally Displaced People.
One of those rights is the right to return to their homes.

IAI has garnered international support for public housing residents living in New Orleans. So far, over 70 organizations spanning five continents have endorsed the Stop the Evictions and Corruption in New Orleans campaign. IAI has also sent a formal letter to President George W. Bush, requesting that he halt any further demolitions of public housing in New Orleans and ensure the right to participation for public housing residents in the city’s rebuilding process.

Cesare Ottolini of the IAI stated: “The world has to know about the suffering of public housing residents taking place in New Orleans, particularly among African Americans and poor people. Therefore, today we have launched a global platform, so that international public opinion can convince the U.S. government, by the force of our solidarity, to respect the rule of law and human rights. Since we are dealing with a true humanitarian crisis, we have requested urgent action on the part of our international allies and have requested the immediate involvement of the U.N. Advisory Group on Forced Evictions of U.N.-Habitat.”

The Stop the Evictions and Corruption in New Orleans campaign is the latest international support for public housing residents in New Orleans. In February 2007, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing and the U.N. Independent Expert on Minority Rights issued a joint press release urging the U.S. government to halt the demolitions. On March 7, 2008, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, in its Concluding Remarks to the U.S. report, likewise noted concern for the then pending demolitions. The Committee noted the “disparate impact that [the] natural disaster[s] continue to have on low income African Americans” and called for local and federal governments to help Katrina’s displaced.

IAI’s letter to President Bush, also addressed to Louisiana Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chair Sen. Christopher Dodd, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, the secretary of HUD and U.N. officials, makes the following charges and demands:

“As international human rights and housing rights activists, members of international solidarity networks, global associations of inhabitants’ rights and tenant rights organizations:

1. We denounce the U.S. government’s plans to permanently displace thousands of public housing residents from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Public housing units are currently being demolished despite being sound and habitable – in fact they maintained minimum damage during the storms.

2. Government officials do not intend to ensure one-for-one replacement housing – leaving most former residents with no protection for their right to housing. This loss of affordable housing represents a severe undermining of the already weak right to housing protections in New Orleans.

3. These decisions have been taken in the context of widespread concern over allegations of corruption by officials overseeing the demolition process, including allegations of self dealing and kickbacks.

4. The dignity and personal possessions of the former residents have not been respected in this process. Contractors have emptied apartments and are discarding and even selling the personal property of residents, including articles of great sentimental and emotional value, without their consent.

 “These facts contravene the following International Laws:

• Article 25 (1), Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  
• Articles 6 and 26, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
  
• Articles 2 and 5, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
  
• Article 11, International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
  
• Article 27, Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  
• Article 21, U.N. Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.
  
• Article 34, Charter of the Organization of American States.
  
• Article 26, American Convention on Human Rights.
  

“We firmly demand of President George W. Bush, Mayor Ray Nagin and HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson [and his successor]:

• An immediate halt to the demolitions and a guarantee of the right to return for all New Orleans residents, specifically public housing residents, in accordance with international norms.
  
• A rebuilding and reconstruction process for public housing in New Orleans that includes real and active participation by residents.
  
• That a commission of inquiry be set up immediately to investigate (i) the procedural process that led to the demolitions and (ii) allegations of corruption in connection thereto.
  

“We are also requesting:

• The completion of surveys to determine the number of displaced public housing residents who wish to return.
  
• Support services dedicated to those wishing to return.”
  

To learn more about the Stop the Evictions and Corruption in New Orleans campaign and become an endorser, visit http://eng.habitants.org/Campaigns-Zero-Evictions.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Dr. Mike Weaver writes: “Don’t forget the upcoming New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival over the next couple of weekends: April 25-27 and May 1-4. Visit the website at www.nojazzfest.com. Also, I’d encourage you to support the local New Orleans scene during the jazzfest by visiting my cyber-friend Eric Cager’s 16th annual conference at www.CuttingEdgeMusicBusiness.com.”

Visit Dr. Mike’s sites – www.DrMikeWeaver.com, www.TheRootsCriedOut.com and www.HeAintHappy.com – and use “therootscriedout” to search for his videos on YouTube.

The Hurricane Information Relief Network is the Bay View newspaper’s nonprofit 501(c)(3) project to provide information and news coverage by, for and about the Katrina survivors who remain stranded across the U.S. and those who want to return home to rebuild their lives and communities. Send news and financial contributions to HRIN, EIN 20-4324012, 4917 Third St., San Francisco CA 94124, (415) 671-0789 or toll free 1 (877) 226-8100, fax (415) 671-0316 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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