Mayor Mitch Landrieu, though relatively patient compared with other city mayors, laid down the gauntlet Thursday, December 1st in a press conference. His patience has worn thin and Occupy NOLA will be cleared soon. Landrieu has been under fire with African American groups recently when he locked out the NAACP, and other black activists, from a "public" meeting regarding a new "murder reduction plan" November 22nd. In addition, Occupy NOLA held a press conference on Thursday, December 1st and called for the mayor to support the right to freedom of speech and assembly. The very next day, Landrieu called for eviction.
Occupy NOLA had their initial march, and since then, have had several marches into the French Quarter, downtown to the Federal Reserve building, a mic check of a New Orleans City Council Hearing to blast them for the lack of affordable housing in the city, and a loud and boisterous occupation of the lobby of City Hall.
I was present in the occupation encampment at Duncan Plaza (renamed Avery Alexander Plaza by activists), last night, when the police conducted an informational sweep and handed out flyers. Here is what those flyers read in part:
Our country was founded on the principle of free speech. The city is committed to protecting your right to assemble. At the same time, the City has an obligation to enforce the laws that protect public health and safety.
In the coming days, we will move forward in a fashion that respects your 1st Amendment rights within the bounds of the the law that protect the common good.
.
Mayor Landrieu is asserting a 10:30pm to 6pm curfew in the park, that he says will be enforced. I anticipate another warning before the NOPD moves in to clear the encampment in the next few days. The NOPD, under federal scrutiny for murder of civilians in the aftermath of Katrina, has been walking on eggshells regarding the encampment. The encampment is large, with well over a hundred homeless folks and occupiers on any given day, with tents spread out over a large green space across from City Hall. New Orleans has one of the highest homeless rates per capita, if not the highest, in the country since Katrina. Landrieu has been surprisingly tolerant, up until now. I suspect a bit a thin skinned reaction to push back from black activists and the encampment itself has prompted him to take action.
I spoke to NOPD officers last night as they made their informational sweep and urged them to please respect the belongings of those living in the encampment, whether they stage civil disobedience acts or not. Many of the homeless in particular have their whole lives in their tents and losing those belongings would be unnecessary hardship imposed by the city. One officer however indicated that if folks don't have their belonging out of the encampment after an additional warning, their belongings would be thrown away.
In a press conference yesterday, Occupy NOLA protesters vowed to defend the encampment:
"We intend to defend it," said protester Malcolm Souter. "We intend to say to the mayor that this is an encampment that expresses our right to say what is wrong with this country and we are asking everyone to join us."
"One thing I would like to point out is that our First Amendment right does not say that your right for free speech or assembly has a schedule," complained Norman Oaks. "It's a 24-hour, God-given right."
Duncan Plaza, across from City Hall and the current location of Occupy NOLA, was the scene of a major protest encampment of homeless folks in 2007, from August to December of that year. It was supported by numerous housing activists that were battling the city to save public housing from destruction in the wake of Katrina.
On December 20th, 2007, the New Orleans City Council, during a meeting in which activists, both inside and outside council chambers, were violently repressed by the NOPD, voted to demolish public housing. Protesters, both inside and outside of the council meeting, were tasered, pepper sprayed and arrested. On that same day, the homeless encampment at Duncan Plaza was cleared by police. Over 3000 units that were open before Katrina have since been demolished, and hundreds more that are occupied face demolition. This has exacerbated the homeless issue since Katrina, made worse with criminally negligent rebuilding policies that did not adequately assist folks with rebuilding their homes, leaving vast numbers of abandoned and boarded up homes in semi-occupied neighborhoods. New Orleans has one of the highest rate of so-called "blighted housing" in the country. This is where the thousands of homeless currently live, in housing slated for sale or demolition.
Occupy NOLA is populated by homeless folks who I believe are in the majority, and reflect the ongoing crisis of the lack of affordable housing in New Orleans.
Below is a video that documents the violence activists and residents suffered during the city council hearing on December 20th, 2007. I remember one person remarking on Booman Tribune when I posted the video shortly after it was made, that the activists "fought so valiantly" and that this was the future of our country. Prophetic words indeed.
Here's to the courageous homeless and activist occupiers of Occupy NOLA. Long may they live!