December 20, 2007

Troubling News from New Orleans: Protesters Tazed and Sprayed

Posted by Kristina Rizga at 2:20PM

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As Wiretap blogged last week, the City Council of New Orleans is meeting today to decide whether or not to approve the demolition that was requested by the Department of Housing and is opposed by local residents. Last week, local residents and national allies succeeded at stopping the bulldozing of their homes. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John Edwards, and the leaders of both houses of Congress — Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid — have called on President Bush to issue a moratorium to stop the demolition.

This troubling AP news report tells us that New Orleans' residents and activists were sprayed and tazed earlier today, as they tried to enter the office of the City Council that is deciding the fate of their housing.

Police used chemical spray and stun devices as dozens of protesters seeking to halt the demolition of public housing in New Orleans tried to force their way through an iron gate at City Hall.

Some people were arrested as officers tried to establish order and an ambulance arrived on the scene. It was unclear whether there were injuries or the ambulance was a precautionary measure.

The council chambers seat fewer than 300. Once capacity was reached, people who were not permitted into chambers marched and chanted outside and eventually violence broke out.

The clash happened at an iron gate that separates the council chambers from City Hall grounds. On the grounds, more than 50 had been chanting, calling for the council to reject plans by the Department of Housing and Urban development to demolish the housing projects.

Then, protesters tried to storm the gate with a few able to squeeze through a narrow opening before police began using the spray and stun devices.

A woman identified by bystanders as Jamie Bork Laughner, was sprayed and dragged away from the gates. She was taken away on a stretcher by emergency officials on the scene. Before that, she was seen pouring water from a bottle into her eyes and weeping.

"I was just standing, trying to get into my City Council meeting," said Kim Ellis, a woman who said she was stunned by officers and still had what appeared to be a Taser wire hanging on her shirt.

I wish we were reading stories about New Orleans poorest residents moving back into repaired housing instead, two years after Hurricane Katrina blew ashore and our government pledged to rebuild the Big Easy and provide opportunities for all residents to come back.