Severian
14th September 2005, 08:49
From the Militant, some reports from the scene giving the statements of working people affected by the hurricane and the social disaster caused by capitalism's response:
New Orleans: Workers outraged at class-biased and racist government response (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693602.html)
Baton Rouge, Biloxi, elsewhere on LA and MS Gulf Coast: (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693655.html)We had to organize to get what we needed
Mississippi farmers hit by crisis after hurricane (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693656.html)
Workers warehoused at Houston Astrodome speak out (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693657.html)
I thought this was particularly interesting in light of all the hype about crime in the hurricane's wake:
Jerome Barra, a restaurant worker, described how he left his apartment and made it on his own to the Superdome. We were there for four days before we were evacuated. It was terrible, he told the Militant. There was a lack of medical attention, and people didnt get properly fed. There were no lights and no water. The bathrooms were getting backed up. And there were dead bodies everywhere.
Barra gave a picture of the cooperation among people rarely mentioned in press reports. We were all helping each other out, he said, bringing the elderly people to the front, holding people, getting them medical attention we were doing all that. On the other hand he described National Guard members with M16 rifles, fingers on the trigger. They did not have to be over us like we were enemies when we were only looking for help.
New Orleans: Workers outraged at class-biased and racist government response (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693602.html)
Baton Rouge, Biloxi, elsewhere on LA and MS Gulf Coast: (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693655.html)We had to organize to get what we needed
Mississippi farmers hit by crisis after hurricane (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693656.html)
Workers warehoused at Houston Astrodome speak out (http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6936/693657.html)
I thought this was particularly interesting in light of all the hype about crime in the hurricane's wake:
Jerome Barra, a restaurant worker, described how he left his apartment and made it on his own to the Superdome. We were there for four days before we were evacuated. It was terrible, he told the Militant. There was a lack of medical attention, and people didnt get properly fed. There were no lights and no water. The bathrooms were getting backed up. And there were dead bodies everywhere.
Barra gave a picture of the cooperation among people rarely mentioned in press reports. We were all helping each other out, he said, bringing the elderly people to the front, holding people, getting them medical attention we were doing all that. On the other hand he described National Guard members with M16 rifles, fingers on the trigger. They did not have to be over us like we were enemies when we were only looking for help.