Posted on 09/09/2005 11:33:50 AM PDT by NavySEAL F-16
Police from surrounding jurisdictions shut down several access points to one of the only ways out of New Orleans last week, effectively trapping victims of Hurricane Katrina in the flooded and devastated city.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
But -- in an example of the chaos that continued to beset survivors of the storm long after it had passed -- even as Lawson's men were closing the bridge, authorities in New Orleans were telling people that it was only way out of the city.
An absolute disgrace. (Via Rogers Cadenhead). I renew my suggestion that the Civil Rights Division look into this, as there's some reason to think it was racially motivated.
UPDATE: This satellite photo shows the Crescent City Connection bridge as a "dry route to safety." (Compare with this map.) But it was a blocked dry route. So while the Red Cross was being kept out of New Orleans, refugees were being kept in.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Here's more on Chief Lawson. Meanwhile, reader Jim Chandler doubts there was racism involved: "Most of the police officers I've seen there are black, so where does the racial motivation come in?" The article suggests otherwise, but I don't know. I think DoJ should look into it, though.
Why in the hell the police didn't just block off the off roads from the bridge to force everyone out of their city I just don't know!
Of course. This was all part of Bush's secret plan to kill all the black people. /s
Although her name was not mentioned in the article, Gov. Blanco had the authority to order that route opened.
...and the mayor of New Orleans is black. He was the first to neglect many of the poor in N.O. by not helping them out of the city in the first place (by buses). I say it's just rotten mismanagement on his part and many other local officials.
The story I heard was that the communities surrounding NO were also suffereing damages and lootings and had no room for refugess from NO. THe locals wanted them kept out in case they settled in the surrounding communities who also had no resources.
I am not sure if racial motivations are here but the people of Gretna sure sound like nice folk don't they? Let's see - there are rising flood waters but we don't want to be burned and looted - so let them die.
New Orleans sure has one hell of a reputation to keep neighboring jurisdictions from letting evacuees in, huh?
Is this the most screwed up area of the country or what?
"Blubbers" Blank-O must have missed that executive training course about the authority granted to a Governor and when and how to use it.
bflr
Check the other thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1481211/posts
Shutting down bridges is SOP during hurricanes, it seems, for safety reasons.
The timing of their reopening is unclear.
Hurricane was over late Monday morning, levee break was early Tuesday morning.
More proof of Blanco's criminal negligence?
Governor could have stepped in and laid down the law.
This woman has redefined incompetence.
Only one beats it imo...DC
bookmark bump
The only worse thing would have been to open the roads and give out speeding tickets to the ones fleeing.
Why hasn't the MSM told us about this?
Needs Repeating
The question is .. Will the Media/Press ask Gov. Blanco this question???
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