Around New Orleans its doubtful that he was a Republican. One sad fact is that these poor blacks have lived in squalor since the Civil War, controled by the racist Democrat machine in Louisiana. Since they are so compassionate and so concerned with the fate of the African American population, why did they never do anything for them other than keep them down and trot them out on election day to vote Dem?
The other sad fact for me is the responses on this thread by supposed caring people. Sure there are criminal elements in the population of black New Orleans. But what about all of the decent people who were just trying to get out of the hellhole? Apparently people on this thread are content that some of them died of heatstroke, dehydration, and lack of medicine on that bridge. I think the police chief/sheriff was criminal.
That is not the point. Walking for miles would have been just as dangerous than staying put and wasn't an option for most. They had all the food, water, supplies within New Orleans (on dry land), more so than the small town they were kept out of.
A trick is being played here. There were tons upon tons of supplies in the city proper that was untouched and not utilized. The police did not keep the peace and there was a complete breakdown of local authority. How in heck would walking fifty miles going to improve their lot? The Mayor and Governor should be thrown in prison.