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Stop Neo-Liberalism in New Orleans |
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Written by Kali Akuno
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"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!"
International Call to Defend Public Housing and Stop Neo-Liberalism in New OrleansThe
struggle for affordable housing and the right to return in New Orleans
is far from over! If anything, the shameful and illegal City Council
vote for the demolition of public housing has given greater clarity to
the social struggle in New Orleans. To advance this struggle, the
Coalition to Stop the Demolitions is calling on all of our allies and
supporters in the social justice movements throughout the United States
and the World to stand with us on Friday, January 25th and Saturday,
January 26th, 2008 for the International Days of Action against the
demolition of public housing.
Our General Aims and Objectives
The principle
aims of our struggle are to stop the advance of neo-liberalism and
disaster capitalism in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. To
accomplish this mission we must end the march of privatizations and
dispossessions, including the demolitions of public housing that are
ravaging the Black majority and working class of the city. We aim to
curtail this march by exerting as much political pressure and economic
reprisal as we can on the US government, particularly the US Senate and
New Orleans City Officials, and the corporate interests that seek to
gain from the misery of the displaced and dispossessed.
Neo-liberalism is a conservative or right wing ideology and
political program that seeks to restructure the governing institution
of the state to facilitate profit realization and maximization for
transnational corporations and other private capital interests. The
ideology and program seeks to accomplish its goals by eliminating taxes
and social service spending, privatizing state services and
institutions (such as housing, education, health care, pensions, water,
electricity, etc.), deregulating markets, and eliminating various
protections for workers (such as the right to form labor unions) and
the environment (like various protection laws).
The International Days of Action
The Coalition
is calling on its supporters everywhere to engage in actions that
target the US Government, particularly the US Senate and its Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, on either Friday, January 25th or
Saturday, January 26th. Where these targets are not accessible, we are
asking supporters in the US to focus on other members of Congress. On
the International level, we are asking that our supporters to focus
your attention on US Embassies and/or raise our issues and demands
within your existing actions.
The International Days of Action were also chosen by the
Coalition to stand in support of the mobilization calls of the World
Social Forum (WSF) and the US Social Forum (USSF) for an International
Day of Action on January 26th, 2008 to unite the social action of the
world's progressive social movements against imperialism and
neo-liberalism.
Other ways you can support the efforts of the Coalition
- Make a donation to support the ongoing organizing, coalition building,
and mobilization work of the Coalition. You can make a tax-deductible
donation to: the Mississippi Disaster Relief Coalition (MDRC). Mail to:
The Mississippi Disaster Relief Coalition P.O. Box 31762 Jackson, MS
39286.
- Produce media stories
(articles, editorials, and radio, television, and internet broadcasts)
covering the struggle for housing and human rights in New Orleans and
promoting the just demands of the Coalition.
- Promote the "Stop Da Demolitions" Mixtape. Available for download at www.peopleshurricane.org
The
Coalition to Stop the Demolition calls on our national and
international allies to support our demands, which are as follows:
- No Demolitions – reopen the existing units and rebuild dignified housing at former public housing sites.
- Guaranteed one-to-one replacement for all public housing residents.
- All available public housing units should be made available for the
homeless and those likely to face homelessness from the pending loss of
rent vouchers and trailer recalls.
- The Federal government needs to suspend demolition until
they complete their own investigation of Housing and Urban Development
head Alphonso Jackson regarding the illegal no-bid contracts he awarded
to his cronies.
- Rent control (at pre-Katrina rates) to provide deeply affordable housing so that all will be able to return to the city.
- Stop the privatization and gentrification of the city.
Resident Principles for Guiding Action
- All actions should be non-violent.
- There should be no weapons or drugs at any actions, and no alcohol or drug or weapon possession at any action.
- No destruction or defacement of resident property.
- No coalition meetings without resident knowledge and input
- No media without residents or resident knowledge.
- Focus on defending public housing and affordable housing in the city for all.
Federal Government Contact Information
- George W. Bush - 202-456-1111
- Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of HUD - (202) 708-1112
- Mary Landrieu, US Senator, (D-LA) 202-224-5824; Fax: 202-224-9735
- David Vitter, US Senator, (R-LA) - (504) 589-2753, DC Office (202) 224-4623
Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee contacts – demand that they approve Senate bill 1668:
- Senator David Vitter: New Orleans Office (504) 589-2753
- Senator Christopher Dodd (202) 224-2823
- Senator Tim Johnson (202) 224-1638
- Senator Jack Reed (202) 224-4642
- Senator Charles Schumer 202-224-0420
- Senator Evan Bayh (202) 224-5623
- Senator Tom Carper (202) 224-2441
- Senator Robert Menendez (202) 224-4744
- Senator Daniel Akaka (202) 224-6361
- Senator Sherrod Brown (202) 224-2315
- Senator Robert Casey (202) 224-6324
- Senator Jon Tester (202) 224-2644
- Senator Richard Shelby (202) 224-5744
- Senator Robert Bennent (202) 224-5444
- Senator Wayne Allard (202) 224-5941
- Senator Michael Enzi (202) 224-3424
- Senator Chuck Hagel (202) 224-4224
- Senator Jim Bunning (202) 224-4343
- Senator Mike Crapo (202) 224-6142
- Senator John Sununu (202) 224-2841
- Senator Elizabeth Dole (202) 224-6342
- Senator Mel Martinez (202) 224-3041
New Orleans Mayor and City Council Contact Information
- Mayor Ray Nagin – 504.658.4900
- Arnie Fielkow 504.658.1060
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- Jacquelyn Clarkson 504.658.1070
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- Stacy Head
504.658.1020
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- Shelly Midura 504.658.1010
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- James Carter 504.658.1030
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Cynthia Hedge-Morrell 504.658.1040
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- Cynthia Willard-Lewis
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Resources
Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund website http://www.peopleshurricane.org
Defend New Orleans Public Housing
http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/
World Social Forum (WSF) http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br
United States Social Forum (USSF) https://www.ussf2007.org/
Contact Information
For more information email
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or call 504.458.3494.
In Unity and Struggle,
Kali Akuno
National Organizer, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
Coalition to Stop the Demolitions
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