Racism, resources blamed for bridge incident

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/13/katrina.bridge/index.html

Racism, resources blamed for bridge incident
Evacuees say they were turned back by police

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- As the heart of a hurricane-ravaged New Orleans filled with sewage-tainted floodwaters and corpses, Mayor Ray Nagin urged people to cross a bridge leading to the dry lands of the city's suburban west bank.

But some evacuees who tried that route told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" and "News Night with Aaron Brown" that they were met by police with shotguns who refused to allow them into Gretna, a nearby town on the other side.

The evacuees blamed the incident on racism, but Gretna's police chief said his town was in lockdown and was no better equipped to handle evacuees than New Orleans.

....

"We had people in wheelchairs, we had people in strollers, people on crutches, so we were a slow-moving group," said Bradshaw. "And we didn't think anything when we saw the deputies there. Then all of a sudden we heard shooting."

[enigami]

1. I don't think it was racism

as much as tribalism. Humans will always resort to tribalism in a crisis. Racism is for every day shit. Them against us. Always was, always will be.

[ret5hd]

2. oh bullshit...

call it tribalism if you want...white tribe against black tribe...but it was fuckin' RACISM...keep them darkie's from our white women.

[enigami]

3. Really

Someone posted the census data from that town the other day. I don't remember the exact data, but that town had a large black population. I would even bet money that some of the cops were black. It is tribalism and class ism much more than racism.

[BronxBoy]

10. What the fuck is tribalism?????

Is that a new synonym for racism? Why take their food and water?

With all due respect, but you cannot be Black.... It's amazing how so many people can recite all the ism's except racism. When I see White people being turned back on an evacuation route out of a disaster area, then I'd be willing to consider the other ism's you seem so fond of.

[Neshanic]

7. Yes, tribalism. White rich tribe against poor black tribe.

[Miss Chybil]

9. Racism and tribalism are two sides of the same coin,

if not the exact same thing, the results are the same and each is derived from the same place - fear. Fear which begets hatred. Hatred which begets dehumanization. Dehumanization which begets attempted annihilation.

[bribri16]

4. Racism is the other elephant revealed by Katrina. How many saw

the African-American man looking for a place for his family to rent or buy being told by landlords with "For Rent" signs in the windows of their property that they had nothing available? All kinds of violations against Federal housing laws taking place. Some of those African Americans will not even be allowed to rent places they were already renting BEFORE Katrina. And we just don't have the moral leadership in the Congress or the White House or the Courts to enforce the laws already on the books. That is except for "looting."

[merwin]

5. So they were telling everyone to leave AND locking them in?

[Demoiselle]

6. Call it whatever...It's a horrible story.

They could have spared a bit of shelter, a place to rest for a while. Makes me ashamed of the human race.

[daleo]

8. They charged the nursing home operators

Someone should be charged here too. Certainly the person who gave the orders, perhaps the police who carried them out. It should be tested in a court of law, whether this was a legal order or not. I doubt if it would be found to be so, but if it was it might end up in a replay of Los Angeles 1992. Nonetheless, the issue should be faced squarely rather be allowed to smolder.