WASHINGTON - February 23 - ACORN members in the Lower Ninth Ward are hosting a Rally on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. (at the Sanchez Center, 1616 Caffin, at Claiborne) to show their determination to rebuild in the Lower 9th Ward. Hundreds of returning New Orleans residents are working with ACORN in the Lower 9th Ward and other neighborhoods to fight off threats to expropriate land, and begin the process of rebuilding. (Earlier that morning, the press will also be able to visit ACORN's Clean-out Program at work in the 9th Ward: meet at the ACORN office at 1024 Elysian Fields at 7 a.m.)

In addition to testimony from residents, Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis, State Sen. Ann Duplessis, and State Rep. Charmaine Marchand, and Ruston Henry with the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development Committee will address the crowd. "This is a major declaration of intent," stated Tanya Harris, a Lower 9th ward resident and ACORN organizer. "We no longer want to be talked about--we now want to do the talking for ourselves."

At the rally, Lower 9th Ward residents will be able to sign declarations of their intent to return, register to vote, and sign up for the ACORN Home Clean-out Demonstration Program.

ACORN's Clean-out Program has cleaned and stabilized over 700 homes in the 9th Ward and other neighborhoods since December. ACORN Services crews remove debris and store salvageable personal belongings; rip out drywall and sanitize structures to remove and prevent future mold growth; and tarp roofs to prevent further water damage and deterioration.

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