White Vigilante Groups Blockaded Small Town In Post-Katrina New Orleans And Murdered Blacks: Report

Think Progress:

Earlier this week, A.C. Thompson of The Nation revealed that after Hurricane Katrina, white vigilante groups patrolled New Orleans, blockaded streets, and shot at least eleven black men. It "was like pheasant season in South Dakota.

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[balatro]

It's amazing to me that the MSM hasn't been flogging this story all over the place. Is it possible that they don't care enough about justice to report the facts? It seems crimes of far less import get spread across the country in no time. Perhaps the person telling the story isn't quite the upright citizen as we think. I can't believe the families of these alleged victims wouldn't be writing or calling obama right now. I really can't believe that Jackson and Sharpton aren't all over this in a heartbeat.

[JulieSA]

I think they're smart enough to know when a story smells.

[daedelus]

They were quite happy to enlist in Bush's WMD publicity campaign. The difference here is that they have nothing to gain.

[IDIOTA]

This story smells bad to me because it rings true. Look at the big picture -- what lessons did Katrina teach?

[IDIOTA]

So you are saying that the story would be more credible if Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were up in arms?

[IDIOTA]

I'm shivering.

[Yves Papa]

I though that Neil Young's "Southern Man" was a tale of a foregone past.

[squander123]

I wonder if this is essentially the same story as the one about the (mainly white) community over the bridge immediately next to the Convention Centre where so many black residents were held after the storm (sorry for the vagueness of these descriptions, I've never been to New Orleans, so I can't remember what it's called)? This was covered by an in-depth report on British TV not long after the storm.

The other thing I remember so clearly about Katrina was channel-hopping between US and British news coverage: the US stations were flying over the city in helicopters and talking about how dangerous it was on the streets, whereas the British stations not only had reporters on the streets, but those reporters were using their live reports to beg the authorities to come in and help the people around them - literally saying to camera, 'if the US authorities are watching this, please come'. One well-known British reporter became so angry on live camera that he began yelling and swearing for FEMA to bring in the evacuation buses before more people died. It was...instructive.

[Jtt]

Yes just north of the bridge on the other side in Algiers Point. There seems to be some rather uncharitable folks over there.

Thanks for posting the news stuff.

It is an interesting prospect, If one dirt bag was organizing all of it over there.

[Jtt]

It will all go nowhere. The top isn't accountable and those on the bottom (if they catch them) will blame them in court. The evidence wont be conclusive (if it was saved) the jury wont convict and everyone was scared/ following orders.

Wait and see.

[ArmyCentrist]

Algiers is where White people go when they are tired of living near Blacks. They are still indignant about the fact that Black people live there at all...it used to be that we could work there, but not live. Kinda like Preston Hollow.

[JulieSA]

You may be referring to the Gretna incident. At first it was reported that police kept people from crossing the bridge, but that turned out to be untrue. They let people cross the bridge, but they wouldn't let them leave the main road and exit into Gretna.

[JulieSA]

Also, there were shootings by police at the Danziger Point bridge. A couple of people were killed. This year charges against the police were dropped, because they had been fired upon first.

[Jtt]

Also lets face it while the news media and right wing radio shows were selling stories of massive looting and violence and complete government failure some people were actually listening here.

They were terrified Im sure. There was no police presence.

To be fair there was already fear on both sides. There are Neighborhoods here, predominantly minority, that I cannot go into now tonight. Its just a fact.

The churches here promote segregation, save a few.

There need to be a holistic accounting of exactly what happened and I don't know how much these documentaries really help to be honest.

The people in charge should have never been allowed to return to their places of leadership - going right up to the president. They orchestrated the Murder.

How come still no one is talking about this:

Katrina nursing home owners acquitted
Couple was accused of negligent homicide after 35 patients drowned ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20649744/ )

35 just left to drown. Thank about it.

Its all lies and exploitation with no accountability. Dont be suckered.

[Jtt]

Of course Racism came into play here, center stage during Katrina. How could it not?

[RJII]

fear on both sides, OK, but how many whites got shot by anyone for it.

[Jtt]

I dont know there were about 20 suspicious deaths but everything was rotten when they picked it up - so we wont know.

But see I knew someone wold say that. was I defending Murder - No I was criticizing the atmosphere of blaming the lowest person on the totem pole for everything. For a total failure that allowed the worst to come out.

Ok but yea call me a racist, and over simplify this complex crime scene involving racism.

Ill be sure to tell my black ex about myself it if makes you feel better. I give up.

[karinova]

Ugh.
What sickens me is the thought of all the OTHER people (who weren't directly involved in this) who know these people, and know what they did, and are cool with it. I'd be sick to my stomach living next to these people.

Then again, I'm black, so I guess I'd be six feet under.

[Vieux Charles]

During the LA riots after the Rodney King verdict many looters were shot. Cruel? Yup. Barbaric? Yup. Reality? Unfortunately, yup.

That's what happens when law and order break down.

I don't know what happened during those dark days in New Orleans, but I do know that a citizen has the right to protect his or her own.

[brooklyncitizen]

SO if you don't know what happenned why are you assuming these people were looters?

[Jtt]

These people were shot first.

They could have been just flooded out and just looking for food or something. What also if they had some handicap as many that stayed behind did. Should that be a death sentience if you skin is a different color?

I feel so bad for people here. There are really good blk and wht individuals, I mean very nice and decent people who you see care about others and the bitter a$$holes and negative 'been there done it types' on both sides make sure, by continuously throwing up blocks, that they never connect.

[postman606]

What did that have to do with N.O? Except in your limited mind if they were black they had to be doing something wrong. L.A was an angry mob of law breakers of all races, New Orleans, people trying to get away from a great natural disaster.

[KafkaTamura]

If you "don't know what happened during those dark days in New Orleans," perhaps you might want to keep your 'opinion' to yourself?

You'd think 'no', though, huh? Thanks for nothing.

[KafkaTamura]

Bizarre.

"That's what happens when law and order break down."

Thanks, Dick Tracy.

[Jtt]

Anti white sentiment here is just as toxic as anti black. Believe me it doesn't help. Its better to go after Criminals period and not use racial distinction at all. Its about destroied New Orleans.

[BayAreaResident]

I would agree with you in any other situation, but 11 black guys get shot to death and you think that color is still not an issue in this case? Things have to be investigated that's all i care for!

[Jtt]

No I didn't say that, On this side of it its better to go after the criminals like we mean it. But this area has a problem and its better not to be excessively proactive about it.

Murder is murder.

[NoMoreFreepers]

My Christmas Wish: that President Obama enforces the fullest extent of the law regarding these hate crimes and puts an end to racism and bigotry once and for all !!

[LAGuy83]

these guys are straight out of the 19th century

[SunshineDaydream]

redstateazz - you cannot kill one person bc another person did something awful

[Jtt]

But even if you think they had the same skin color?(sic)

His is not far form how a majority think down here. To them such Ignorance is totally acceptable. Even desirable.

After Katrina, if there was any justice in the world Louisiana probably should have lost statehood due to gross mismanagement and widespread corruption - but it was all swept under the rug, each party taking care to cover its own indiscretions.

This needs to be thoroughly exposed and everything that happened even if it is embarrassing across to board - as it will be.

[RRK70]

Not much of a story from the sounds of it. I'm amazed that the story about the Crescent City Connection bridge being cordoned off by Sheriff Harry Lee never made the MSM. That Convention Center that was always on the news was within walking distance of one of the bridges spanning the Mississippi River onto the West Bank. Problem was the law enforcement on the West Bank blocked the bridge and was FIRING WARNING shots at anyone approaching. A lot of "white flight" took place in NOLA and as a result you have residents of an adjacent community looking out for themselves. United we stand?

[karinova]

Well, at least in that case, there IS a criminal investigation going on.

(Not that it'll come to much, I'm sure.)

[MyLowell]

there seriously has to be an invesigation. sign the petition.

[scornflakes]

Just signed it. If this was done to anyone, even one person, an investigation, an indictment, and a prosecution must be done.

[Jtt]

Signed and added:

Bring everything out into the light. People can only move forward with the complete truth.

[neesy08]

Why is the media not reporting this? If this had been black on white crime, we never would have heard the end of it. Just look at te Caylee Anthony disappearance/murder. It's been about 6 months since this child first disappeared and the media are all over this story. The GOP kept taking about "angry" African-Americans. Wonder why? They have a right to be.

[vtlt8]

Maybe because it, you know, didn't happen?

[BayAreaResident]

What didn't happen? The black people didn't get shot because their color of skin didn't allow them to be seen as an average people seeking help during a disaster? Your assumption is beyond me, given that there are real people who testify being targeted simply for their color of skin, but it appears that in itself is not enough for you to start worrying..

[postman606]

Try that again.

[IDIOTA]

The GOP kept taking about "angry" African-Americans because it is an autonomic response by now for a party that invented the term race card -- so they could abuse it -- and that has engaged in race baiting behavior for decades.

[morbie5]

Are you kidding me? Black on white crime goes unreported every single day. There isn't enough hours in the day to report how many rapes and murders are commented by black people against white people. At a local university my friend knows this girl that was raped by a black man in a school science lab one night, was this story on the news? No. Did they ever find who did it? No.

[ZimboDude]

THIS IS LIFE - THAT'S LIFE AND THESE THINGS HAPPEN.....SADLY.

[brooklyncitizen]

Hey that's the Christmas card that Bush just sent the Iraqis...Bravo!

[RJII]

too funny.