Hurricane Katrina and the War on the Poor (from Archive)

SF Paramedics Prevented, at Gun Point, from Rescuing Themselves and Others
After being turned away from shelters they and a large group of African Americans try and walk to safety. Gretna Sheriffs block the Greater New Orleans Bridge across the Mississippi and shoot over their heads when they try to leave the flooded city. Later their temporary shelter is destroyed by a helicopter, a police officer, gun drawn, threatens them in a furious rage and takes away their food and water. Just before night he forces the group to flee into the night of a ‘shoot to kill’ curfew in New Orleans.  

When they finally get picked up they, and thousands of others, sit in a dirty cage at the New Orleans airport, again without food and water, forced to wait for the George W. Bush photo opportunity to end. As they arrive in San Antonio they are made to stand on a dark tarmac and are subjected to a dog sniffing ordeal. This and more in a 24 minute interview with Lorrie Beth and Larry by Maria Gilardin recorded on Sept. 9, 2005.

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