New Orleans Police Taser, Pepper Spray Residents Seeking to Block Public Housing Demolition

On Thursday hundreds of people were turned away from the City Council meeting. Some of the protesters were shot with pepper spray and tasers. Inside the City Council chambers, the scene turned chaotic when police began making arrests and tasering people.

Police cited fire marshal regulations to bar many protesters from attending the meeting, but many housing advocates said there empty seats inside the council chambers. Some protesters began banging on the gates to city hall to try to get in–they were met with pepper spray and tasers. Eyewitnesses said one woman tasered in the back collapsed in a seizure on the ground.

Police said at least 15 people were arrested on Thursday. New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley said the force was needed after protesters tried to tear down the gate to city hall.

During the hearing, members of the City Council defended their decision to approve the demolition of public housing. Council member Shelley Midura described some of the protesters as “demagogues and terrorists.”

Midura said, “The choice is to either support redevelopment by approving demolition or to reject redevelopment by denying these permits. I am choosing to support what I believe is the reasonable middle ground, a plan to replace and reform public housing.”

We are joined by three guests in New Orleans: Kali Akuno is the executive director of the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund. Sess4-5 a New Orleans hip hop artist and a member of the Coalition to Stop Demolition and Howard Robertson, a retired major in the New Orleans police department.

Kali Akuno, executive director of the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund.

Sess4-5, a New Orleans Hip Hop artist and a member of the Coalition to Stop Demolition.

Howard Robertson, retired major with New Orleans police.

Related Links

• People’s Hurricane Relief Fund

Related Democracy Now! Stories

• The Battle to Save New Orleans Public Housing (12/20/2007)
• HUD Poised to Tear Down New Orleans Public Housing Developments (12/12/2007)
• Fight to Reopen New Orleans Public Housing “Horrible Slow and Tragic” (9/4/2007)
• Battle Over Right to Return: Housing Advocates Occupy New Orleans Public Housing Office (9/4/2007)