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TechnoratiLocked Outside the Gates: Tasers, Pepper Spray, and Arrests in the Struggle for Affordable Housing in New Orleans
In a remarkable symbol of the injustices of post-Katrina reconstruction, hundreds of people were locked out of a public New Orleans City Council meeting addressing demolition of 4500 public housing apartments. Some were tasered, many pepper sprayed and a dozen arrested.
Outside the chambers, iron gates were chained and padlocked even before the scheduled start.
The scene looked like one of those countries on TV that is undergoing a people's revolution - and the similarities were only beginning. (See video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMBWAXfGsc4)
Dozens of uniformed police secured the gates and other entrances. Only developers and those with special permission from council members were allowed in - the rest were kept locked outside the gates. Despite dozens of open seats in the council chambers, pleas to be allowed in were ignored.
Chants of "Housing is a human right!" and "Let us in!" thundered through the concrete breezeway.
Public housing residents came and spoke out despite an intense campaign of intimidation. Residents were warned by phone that if they publicly opposed the demolitions they would lose all housing assistance. Residents opposed to the demolition had simple demands. If the authorities insisted on spending hundreds of millions to tear down hundreds of structurally sound buildings containing 4500 public housing subsidized apartments, there should be a guarantee that every resident could return to a similarly subsidized apartment. Alternatively, the government should use the hundreds of millions to repair the apartments so people could come home. Neither alternative was acceptable to HUD. A plan of residents to partner with the AFL-CIO Housing Trust to save their homes was also ignored.
Outside, SWAT team members and police in riot gear and on horses began to arrive as rain started falling. Those locked out included public housing residents, a professor from Southern University, graduate students, the Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, ministers, lawyers, law students, homeless people who lived in tents across the street from city hall, affordable housing allies from across the country and dozens of others.
Inside the chambers, Revered Torin Sanders and others insisted that the locked out be allowed to come and stand inside along the walls - a common practice for over 30 years. No one could recall any City Council locking people out of a public meeting. The request to allow people to stand was denied. The Council then demanded silence from those inside. Those who continued to demand that the others be let in were pointed out by police, physically taken down and arrested. Ironically, some young men were tasered right in front of the speaker's podium.
This was a meeting the council had repeatedly tried to avoid. It was only held after residents (100% African American and nearly all mothers and grandmothers) got an emergency court order stopping demolitions until the council acted. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced long ago it was going to demolish 4500 public housing apartments despite the Katrina crisis of affordable housing no matter what anyone said. HUD had no plans to ask the council or anyone else for approval. The judge said otherwise, so the meeting was scheduled.
Leaders of the U.S. Congress, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, asked that the decision be delayed 60 days so they could try to move forward on Senate Bill 1668 which would resolve many of the demolition problems. This request was backed by New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu and Presidential candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama.
Opponents cited the affordable housing crisis in New Orleans. Homeless people camped across from City Hall and for blocks under the interstate. The number of homeless people doubled since Katrina. Thousands of residents in FEMA trailers across the Gulf Coast were being evicted. More on the reasons to oppose demolition can be found here.
Solidarity demonstrations opposing demolition were held in Washington DC, New York, Oakland, Minneapolis, Houston, North Carolina, Maine, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New Jersey, and Boston. Thousands of people across the country contacted city council members. Dozens of community, housing and human rights groups petitioned the Council not to demolish until there was an enforceable requirement of one for one replacement of housing.
But hours before the meeting began, a majority of the council publicly announced on the front page of the local paper that they were going to approve demolition no matter what people said at the meeting. The paper, the developers and others were delighted. Residents and affordable housing allies were not.
Inside, the council started the meeting surrounded by armed police, National Guard and undercover authorities from many law enforcement agencies.
Outside, the locked out could see the people who had been arrested on the inside being dragged away to police wagons. A few of the protestors then pulled open one of the gates. The police started shooting arcs of pepper spray into the crowd. A woman's scream pierced the chaos as police fired tasers into the crowd. Medics wiped pepper spray from fallen people's eyes. A young woman who was tasered in the back went into a seizure and was taken to the hospital.
Inside and out, a dozen people were arrested - most for disturbing the peace. They joined another dozen who had been arrested over the past week in protest actions against the demolitions.
The City Council meeting continued. Supporters of demolition were given careful, courteous attention and softball questions by council members. Opponents less so.
Despite pleas from displaced residents, dozens of community organizations and federal elected officials, the New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to allow demolition to proceed. In their approval the Council did promise to urge HUD to listen to residents and to work for one for one replacement of affordable housing. Several city council members read from typed statements about their reasons to support demolition: the deplorable state of public housing; the lack of available money for repair; the oral promises of all, the federal government and developers, to do something better for the community.
After the meeting, residents vowed to continue their struggle for affordable housing for everyone and to resist demolitions - putting their bodies before bulldozers if necessary.
The struggle for affordable housing continues as does the campaign to stop demolition until there is a real right to return and one for one replacement of housing. Residents and local advocates applaud and appreciate the support of allies from across the nation. Critics label national supporters as "outside agitators" - exactly the same charge leveled at civil rights activists historically. But people understand that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Public housing residents and local affordable housing advocates welcome the humble participation of social justice advocates of whatever age, of whatever race, from whatever place, who join and act in true solidarity.
Residents vow to make sure that the promises made by the Council and the Mayor are enforced. For example, the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, announced that he would not allow HUD to demolish two of the four housing developments until HUD gave documentation of funded plans including one for one replacement of the housing demolished and details of the developments and their plans.
The Senate will continue to be lobbied to pass SB 1668 - which would really guarantee one for one replacement of housing. It is currently stalled in the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee because of opposition by Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter.
Litigation is still pending in state and federal courts to enforce Louisiana and U.S. laws that should protect residents from illegal demolitions. Investigations into the legality of locking people out of a public meeting, the legality of a law passed at such a meeting, the indiscriminate use of tasers and pepper spray, are all ongoing.
Padlocked and chained gates will only amplify the voices of the locked out calling for justice. Pepper spray and tasers illustrate the problems but will not deter people from protesting for just causes. Bulldozers may start up, but just people will resist and create a reality where housing is a real human right.
Stephanie Mingo, a working grandmother who is one of the leaders of the residents, promised to continue the resistance after the meeting: "We did not come this far to turn back now. This fight is far from over. We are not resting until everyone has the right to return home."
Those wanting additional information should look to: http://www.justiceforneworleans.org or http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org
Bill is a human rights lawyer and law professor at Loyola University New Orleans. Bill is part of the team of lawyers representing displaced residents of public housing. You can reach him at Quigley@loyno.edu
22 Comments so far
Show AllWho's this "youbetterwork" idiot? Is he a neoconservative troll? The Khmer Rouge mentality taking place in New Orleans is sickening.
This is an example of forced gentrification.
God forbid that people owned more of their own time. Idle hands are the devil's tools, or so the saying goes. Some of them might even becomes activists, poets, writers, artists, etc. Can't have that. Apparently we all must be working 50 hours/week for a Fortune-500.
Banana republik amerika, just like the rotten brand Del Monte always grew on its Southern American slave plantations.
Sieg heil Herr Busch that the rot is finally visible at home as well as on the edges of the crumbling fetid amerikan empire!
Watching the rioting in Pakistan now that their last hope for democracy is gone with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, I was reminded of the demonstration in NOLA. It wasn't as violent or destructive, but the New Orleanians realized their say in government was being usurped by an oligarchy, just as the Pakistanis have seen their government usurped by a tyrant.
It's telling that, in his speech about the matter, Bush didn't condemn Musharraf as a bloody, lawless dictator who tortured his own people, has dangerous WMD and harbors terrorists, and demand an invasion to bring freedom and democracy to Pakistan -- then again, Pakistan has no oil.
Brilliant analogy:
since1492
"More proof of America's fraudulence. But it's not 1984 - it's more like 1776 when the legalization of our empire got its start. The residents of New Orleans are sitting on property the empire needs to expand its interests. Just like native American's situation in 1776, and the same results are in plain view today. What a country!
Hoa binh"
Being a cop used to be an honorable profession but the last decades there has been a huge decline in civility in the police ranks. I have to force myself not to see a cop and think pig. I know they all are not.
I was at an outside park concert where only a hundred or so middle class people were hanging around dancing to background music after the band had left. The police all the sudden started threatening us with pepper spray and tear gas. It was truly unbelievable; I wished they would have done it though - what they did not realize is that at least 25% of the people in the crowd were lawyers, one an assistant attorney general. It can happen to anyone.
Face it, we live in a police state.
Latent human cruelty has been legitimized and energized. Active, non-violent, large scale engagement is required.
It's important not to sit this one out.
Papiowhisperer has it right, I think. The video clip of the gate "crashing" should be in an organizers textbook because the middle age "hippie" who starts shaking the gate is welcomed in by the police in the last 30 seconds of the clip while the crowd's attention is distracted by the rough handling of the woman with a cane. He can be seen in center of frame no.7059 in the slide show "Protesters trying to enter city hall are tasered and pepper sprayed" at the Defend New Orleans Public Housing (dot org) web site linked in the piece above. Good catch, Papio.
Economic evictions are becoming common place in America. This is probably the most inhumane example.
"Leaders of the U.S. Congress, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, asked that the decision be delayed 60 days so they could try to move forward on Senate Bill 1668 which would resolve many of the demolition problems. This request was backed by New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu and Presidential candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama."
Notice that these fine people didn't DEMAND that this outrage be stopped, just delayed...
The focus must be on the facilitators........those who simply go along for the ride though they know what is being done is wrong and unjust. How could such things be done if police refused to participate, if construction workers refused to tear down the structures, if bureaucrats refused to issue building permits? Americans have consistently refused to stand together.... like the Germans in the 30's we have allowed and even facilitated crimes perpetrated on others just to find that others stand aside and allow things to be done to us......... Are we a nation of sheep? Are we no better than the Germans were....... Divide and conquer..... divide and rule...... divided we fall.... again and again. Why don't we all just mind our own business? That seems to be the American way. The rise of Fascism in America under begun under Reagan has been allowed by indifferent, ignorant, and fearful people. If Americans do not rise up and take back our nation the great vision of our founding fathers will soon slide into the oblivion of a "Brave New World". How many American would simply ignore death camps on their door step like the Germans did? I'm afraid my contempt for my fellow American grows almost daily ...... though lately there has been some small cause for optimism (I don't exclude myself). Perhaps we need be concerned about the rise of Edwards lately........ a true populist, his life is in peril when the right believes that the end justifies the means.... Pakistan is not so far away, and their leader clearly made of the same material as ours. We must protect those who serve the people lest they be destroyed either by the smear campaigns of the right, by subersion through wealth, or actual physical destruction. The odds of regaining America become more remote with each passing year.
Howard
My friend, you and I shall remain strangers unto life, and unto one another, and each unto himself, until one day when you shall speak and I shall listen...deeming your voice my own voice; and when I shall stand before you thinking myself standing before a mirror. Kahlil Gibran
you better work: You are a troll. I'm not even going to take the time to rebutt your nonsense.
This article has many factual problems.
Many people were allowed in who were at odds with the destruction. Even the person who wrote this article (Bill Quigley) was allowed in to make his speech.
The people who lived in these places have been given new places to live none of them were made homeless by this...
Read nola.com to find the truth on this matter. Especially
http://blog.nola.com/updates/2007/12/washpost_failed_public_housing.html
and
http://blog.nola.com/updates/2007/12/new_orleans_housing_debate_cov.html
I watched a bunch of different vids at
you tube. There was the big guy with
the beard and pony tail that was half
heartedly pulling on the gate before
it broke open. He looked kind of surprised
when it did then went off cam. Next
time you see him he is being gently
escorted behind the gates with the cops,
hands behind back, still holding a shopping
bag. Most people at the demo weren't yanking
on the gates, only a very few. Mr beard
dude sure looked like a provocateur to me.
I'm sorry but the protestors have it all wrong....
You don't tear down gates with police right there. You don't try to cause a riot. Or any of what they did.
What you do, if you want to demonstrate, is this.
1- They should have all had cans of wet dog food, and large spoons, so they could fling the dog food at the police- to remind the cops that they're nothing more than a pack of wild mangey muts, blindly following orders, completely oblivious and unware of reality, and pathetically graveling to their masters.
2- As for the city officials, dress up a few dummies in ties and suits, or ladies suits. Contruct a bunch paper mache, or wooden mock Guillitines, place them ontop of a float, high up so all can see... and simulate the dummies being beheaded.
That will grab their attention.
Recently, I saw a clip on CNN where a black lady was acting puzzled as to why these people were protesting the destruction of what she termed "sub-standard" housing. She said that these domiciles would be rebuilt with much better standards than before. This made me think, "why indeed are these people protesting?" Was it due to pure ignorance? Then I realized that she said nothing about where they were supposed to live in the meantime!
So typically GOPathological - the whore lover Vitter blocking housing for the poor. It just gets more pathetic every minute...
I was struck by how much the demonstration outside looked like Los Angeles in 1992 after the police were acquitted in the Rodney King beating trial. The cops looking beseiged and alarmed, the protesters enraged, clawing at the fence trying to keep the hordes out like the British and Zulus. We know how that one ended...
I did see a fair number of white people in the crowd, which shows the destruction of public housing in New Orleans has a direct impact on people of all races.
The developers smiling is so typical in an America run for the benefit of the rich and politically connected. To change this people need to vote and stay informed.
Disenfranchisement of minorities in Louisiana is nothing new. In 1927 levees were blown up north of New Orleans to force black share-croppers out. Bottom line is that might makes right. Naomi Klein's shock doctrine is in play. If you are poor or live in some coveted land, look for eminent domain or some other excuse like a natural disaster to steal your land...
More proof of America's fraudulence. But it's not 1984 - it's more like 1776 when the legalization of our empire got its start. The residents of New Orleans are sitting on property the empire needs to expand its interests. Just like native American's situation in 1776, and the same results are in plain view today. What a country!
Hoa binh
It's called fascism--corporatism, a dictatorship, oligarchy--any of the above. George and his nasty minions are putting things in place to dispense with the annoying poor and middle class in this country in all business areas where they can make a pile of dough and sock it away in an off-shore account, then shove those poor people away in some ghetto or just kick them to the curb. The Neo-con motto of "I've got mine; get your own" is well on its way to being the motto of America. 1984 is here.
I just can't help but see the similarity between this incident and the FCC voting the changes in ownership despite thousands of protests and even requests by members of congress to hold off on their decision pending further review.
What is happening here? Why didn't our money go towards renovating these apartments instead of rebuilding casinos?
Help!