Support Your Local Police

If you read only one article about the treatment of the poor and black victims of Katrina in New Orleans, this is the one you should read. Written by Larry Bradshaw and Lorrie Beth Slonsky (respectively chief shop steward and steward, Paramedic Chapter, SEIU Local 790), who were in town for a conference and became trapped in the aftermath of Katrina.

These people know from rescue efforts.

We organized ourselves and the 200 of us set off for the bridge with great excitement and hope. As we marched past the convention center, many locals saw our determined and optimistic group and asked where we were headed. We told them about the great news. Families immediately grabbed their few belongings and quickly our numbers doubled and then doubled again. Babies in strollers now joined us, people using crutches, elderly clasping walkers and other people in wheelchairs. We marched the 2-3 miles to the freeway and up the steep incline to the Bridge. It now began to pour down rain, but it did not dampen our enthusiasm.

As we approached the bridge, armed Gretna sheriffs formed a line across the foot of the bridge. Before we were close enough to speak, they began firing their weapons over our heads....