KF: Saying enough is enough
Source: Ken Foster
NOLA author Ken Foster provides the text for an article in the LA Times about the planned Thursday march on the New Orleans City Hall in protest of recent violence. (No need to register at Ken's site.) Here's a bit:
"This is the first time that I've been scared to live in New Orleans," said [Stella Baty] Landis, who teaches music at Tulane University and is the proprietor of a coffee shop and bookstore in the city's Lower Marigny neighborhood. "Two people that I know murdered within a week is terrifying. I feel it's the worst it's ever been. I feel it's a war zone."
Landis is among several organizers of a march on City Hall planned for Thursday.
"We feel that there hasn't been focused attention on the part of our elected officials with regards to the escalating crime and murders," Landis said. "Our main goal is to coerce attention for an acknowledgment of the problem, and try to get it dealt with in an open forum."
Ken Foster, a writer who is another rally organizer, said, "Our point of view is that we can't not do something. We must make our voices heard."
Last summer, Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco deployed the National Guard and state police to help city police patrol the streets, and they are scheduled to remain through June. But many residents have questioned the effectiveness of the additional law enforcers.
The office of New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin did not respond to requests for comment. In a local television interview Thursday, Nagin said most of the crime was "black on black" and "it's unfortunate."
Ken also provides some background on how the march came to be and fellow NOLA author Sara Gran weighs in with her support, as well as her frustration over the city's crime.
For more on the murder of filmmaker Helen Hill, the most recent violent death, see a memorial page that has been established by friends, as well as links from boing-boing to her film work and tributes from close friends, all of whom are reeling from her death. Even in their grief though, these folks are all determined to do something:
How to respond? Should we give up on New Orleans and flee the city? Should we arm ourselves to the teeth? I’ve contemplated both options. But I believe that Helen would have wanted us to keep fighting for justice and a better city. If you are reading this in New Orleans, and you’re not actively involved in working for the future of this city, I challenge you to get involved, now. We are, quite literally, fighting for our lives.
The friends of musician Dinerral Shavers, killed on December 28th are equally determined to keep his name alive. A teenager was recently arrested in that shooting, where the intended victim was apparently Shavers' stepson. The motive is both bizarre and pathetic:
Police said what apparently was a feud between [David "Head"] Bonds and Shavers' 15-year-old stepson sparked the shooting, and that Shavers was an unintended victim.
At the center of the feud may have been resentment for "Uptowners," such as Shavers' stepson, moving into territory of the "Govs," short for Gov. Nicholls Street, a name adapted by teens from that neighborhood.
The feud, police sources said, may have spilled over into John McDonogh School and a club near South Claiborne and Tulane avenues.
Police had received a report that Shavers and his wife were trying to take the teen out of John McDonogh because of the tension between him and "downtown" kids.
Shavers and his wife were picking up the teen and his 18-year-old brother about 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the home of the younger boy's girlfriend in the 2200 block of Dumaine Street.
As the teens got into the car, the 15-year-old, who had apparently seen Bonds, yelled for his father to speed away because the approaching youth had a gun.
But Bonds ran after the car shooting, apparently aiming at the 15-year-old, police said. He shot out the vehicle's back window and hit the stepfather in the back of the head.
Shavers managed to drive the vehicle four blocks to the 2600 block of Dumaine Street before coming to a stop.
Shavers was taken to a hospital, but died within an hour.
These are losses to New Orleans, horrible losses, but also losses to Lousiana and America. This is an American city that is dying — the same city we watched in shocked horror and swore to save not even two years ago. If you are anywhere close to New Orleans, then join in the march, and for those of you, like me, who are too distant to march, then a virtual march is in order. We will fill the fax machines of Mayor Nagin, Gov. Blanco and the leaders of the Congressional committees dedicated to overseeing the New Orleans rebuild with our thoughts on this senseless and preventable violence. We will tell them all enough is enough. We will tell them it is not about New Orleans anymore, it is about America, it is about Americans.
We will tell them they shouldn't worry about tourism because we won't be going to New Orleans for fun. We will tell them it's about making New Orleans a safe and viable and working urban space that welcomes residents and visitors with ease. We will tell them this is a test of what America stands for that is just as important as Iraq or North Korea or Iran.
What is happening in New Orleans every day is killing Americans. If that is not as significant as terrorist threats, then we are seriously distracted by international affairs to the detriment of domestic concerns. It is not about competition with foreign threats, it is about acknowledgement of what is happening here, on American soil.
We all have a stake in New Orleans, and it is way past time that we acknowledge that responsibility.
Emails will not work for any of these folks, not for those of us outside of their districts, anyway. (Tricky isn't it — they block you if you aren't from their voting area.) But if hundreds, dare I say thousands of faxes arrive in various offices, then maybe we will still be heard. Just send a note (the same to all of them to save time) and let our leaders know that as an American you will not tolerate the continued violence in New Orleans and you demand action on every level of the government to fix this problem. That means more competent police, more assistance to the courts, and more help in the schools to provide programs to curb juvenile violence.
It's twenty minutes out of your day and you can do this — we can all do this. Just be sure to include your full name and address in the letter — that way our congressmen and senators know you are a real voting member of American society and they can't dismiss you — they cannot ignore you. Here are the fax numbers:
Louisiana Gov Kathleen Blanco: 225-342-7099
Rep. James Oberstar, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure: 218-727-8270
Rep. John Mica, ranking Republican, House Comm on Transpo and Infra: 202-226-0821
Sen Daniel Inouye, Chairman Sen Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation: 202-224-6747
Sen Ted Stevens, ranking Republican, Sen Comm on Commerce, Sci & Transpo: 202-224-2354
These are the Congressmen & Senators who have been holding hearings for New Orleans — they are the right ones to let know how you feel. Tell them you support the Thursday march on City Hall, and tell them you are angry. Tell them we are all angry and we aren't going to go away.
I'll be back with contact info for the City of New Orleans — so far no luck finding a fax number for city hall. If someone can help with that, send me an email at colleenatchasingraydotcom.
Comments
I found a fax number for Mayor Nagin on the cityofno website, at this url:
http://www.cityofno.com/Portals/Portal35/portal.aspx?
portal=35&tabid=22&tabindex=0
Mayor Ray Nagin's fax number: 504-658-4938
Posted by: Sandy | January 11, 2007 12:28 AM
I just want to thank you for writing this and thank anyone reading this. I have been proud to call New Orleans home for over 10 years. I grew up in Chicago, but never found home until I came here. Many people think that's crazy and don't understand it, and if you haven't been here before or you don't understand, I don't think I can explain it. I was at the march today and it was big and loud and beautiful. I want you all to remember that New Orleans is what it is because of our people. We have a few bad ones, and they are REALLY bad (some of them teenagers with guns, some of them elected officials), but the VAST MAJORITY of our community is really really good, and neat! I promise you would really like us! And I also promise that we are doing everything we can to take our city back. We want you to come visit and we want to meet you and show you a good time. Katrina was a horrible unthinkable disaster... but the ruins that were left also leave behind the greatest opprortunity every to really rebuild New Orleans well and make it better than we could ever have imagined. We thank you all for your support through Katrina, and your continued support through these hard times. It touches me to feel it from those of you who are not here. You are our brothers and sisters in this country and this world. We are not seperate cities, we are people united in hope! Thanks so much! Don't give up. We won't either!
Posted by: Karen | January 11, 2007 12:58 PM
I reside in a small community in Tennessee, but I have been an avid supporter of rebuilding the hurricane-ravaged city of NOLA, and other areas such as Gulfport and Biloxi, MS. I am writing to say that I saw a small mention of tensions in NOLA scroll across the bottom of the screen on CNN, but nothing was actually said about any of the violent crimes taking place which caused the perceived tensions on Nagin's part. I had to search to find any info on the net. I am outraged that this is not widely reported, on a national level. It truly amazes me that the majority of our citizenry remains awash in the smoke-screen of international intrigue, war abroad, and terrorism. If this kind of violence isn't terrorism on our own soil, then I don't know what is. The truth really needs to get out. Thank you.
Posted by: Patti Jo Mullins | January 11, 2007 03:07 PM
Ibelive that everything being said is true but somehow or another the people of new orleans has forgotton about GOD we have to go back to the word to claim our city as well as our streets back GOD Said in his word IF my people who are call by my name will humble themselfs and pray seek my face turn from there wicked ways then Will I GOD HEAR from HEVEN FORGIVE THERE SINS AN HEAL THERE LAND. PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS WE MUST TURN TO GOD.most of all the people who sit in high places IAM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE OF AUTLTORITY .MAYOR RAY nagin the senator crongressmen govanor the cheif of police an his DEPARTMENT THE CHURCHS OF NEW ORLEANS TEACHER SCHOOL BORD STAFF DOCTOR LAWERS JUDGES AND EVERYONE WHOM WORKS INOUR COURTS MUST TAKE A STAND AN COME TOGATHER WITH THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS.OUR VOICES IS NOT ENOUGS ITS TIME TO SPEAK OUT LOUD WHAT GOD SAYS THATS IF WE BELIVES HE HAS THE POWER TO HEAL OUR LAND SOMEONE MAY SAY THATS PERSONAL I SAY NO IT IS NOT WHEN JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS EVERY ONE SAW IT THE BIBLE SAYS SO IT IS NOT PERSONAL TO CLIAM OUR CITY AN OUR STREETS BACK IN THE OF JESUS TELLING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUT THERE GUNS DOWN LETING THEM KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT PLESE WITH ALL THE KILLINGS .PEOPLE OF AUTLTORITY WILL YOU TAKE THE STREETS IN THE NAME OF JESUS ITS TIME WE STOP TURSTING OURSELFS AN START TRUSTING GOD AND BELIVE THAT OUR CITY CAN BE HEAL YOU MAY SAY WHY IAM SAYING HEAL WELL THE PEOPLE OR HURTING EVEN THOSE WHO LEFT THE CITY BECAUSE OF THERE LOST AN SO MANEY BROCKEN PROMIES IF THOSE WHO THAT ARE IN AUTLTORITY WOULD TAKE A STAND FOR RIGHTOUNESS AN LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE HURTING AS WELL AND DO SOMETHING THE CITY WORKERS OR NOT ON THERE JOB AT ALL AGAIN I SAY THIS JOB IS TO BIG FOR US TO HANDLE BY OURSELFS ITS TIME TRUTH AND NO NO NO NO MORE LIES ONCE AGIAN I SAY PEOPLE OF AUTLTORITY YES YOU ALL BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING JUST AS SURE WE LITTLE PEOPLE HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD FOR THE THINGS WE DO AN SAY YOU BRTTER KNOW YOU WILL TO THE BIBLE SAYS THAT RIGHTOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION IT ALL SO A LITTLE RIGHTOUSNESS IS BETTER THE RICHOUS OF MANEY SO WHO WILL TAKE A STAND AND ALSO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Posted by: MARY ANN LEWIS | May 14, 2007 10:24 PM