But others post differently. There are those with the right values and those with the wrong ones, in any neighborhood. It comes with the territory. Having said that, this story as my posts reflect, just enrages me. I normally have a calmer tone.
I don't buy this story, at least not the way it is related here. Re-reading the articles and the posts, it seems that a lot of posters got certain elements twisted around, missed other important particulars, and made too many assumptions.
For example, the "racist" angle - - did you see that the population of Gretna is about 40% black? Wouldn't it be intersting to see how many of these "redneck" Gretna cops firing shots over people's heads were black?
Also, the cops were apparently only stopping foot traffic. Several posters, I think even including Michael, appeared to be under the impression that the bridge was closed to buses and other vehicular traffic.
Also, did you catch this snippet?:
Lawson says that his officers "acted in the manner they were instructed to" and defends the order to close the bridge as "the right decision."
He said that in addition to his security concerns, an unmoored vessel on the river "raised the threat that it might crash into and breach the levee, which would have flooded Gretna."
He says that his officers did assist about 4000 people who "arrived at the doorstep of (Gretna City)" either by crossing the bridge before it was closed or approaching from another route.
"We commandeered public transit buses and we took them to higher and safer ground" at the junction of Interstate-10 and Causeway Boulevard where "there was food and shelter," he said.
That police chief doesn't sound here like the evil racist killer that many posters make him out to be. I'm sure he saw and heard on TV the same things the rest of America was seeing and hearing - - the chaos and open looting, the rapes and murders, the anarchy and gunshots, police and rescue workers getting fired upon....
I'm afraid I simply cannot join so many others here in calling for this police chief to get thrown into the fires of hell for doing what he thought was necessary at the time to protect his town. It sure is easy to be safely in another part of the country and sit at a keyboard and give away other people's homes (and money) but I say again that if I was a homeowner in Gretna, I would be extremely grateful to have a police chief like Lawson.