"Red Cross NEVER allowed into New Orleans."

[Eric J in MN]

From
http://dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/2125/04978

by SteveRose
Fri Sep 2nd, 2005 at 18:02:05 PDT

My first diary! This whole week has been so depressing. My Red Cross donation was one bright spot. At least I had done something to help.

Then, after reading dKos and the other blogs all week and seeing over and over again comments that that FEMA and the NG were no where to be seen from the people on the ground in NO, I was wondering where the Red Cross was in all this. They were never mentioned. It was like they didn't exist. And, after yesterday's drama at the convention center, the Brown and Chertoff lies, the Red Cross was still MIA. Then, earlier today, I saw a note that the Red Cross was not allowed to enter NO. Hmm, that's doesn't make sense. This simmered for a couple hours.

So I called the Red Cross and asked them if its true....

And, to my surprise, the nice lady answering the phone said it was true and they told/asked/ordered not to enter NO. She then went right into her spiel about all the other work the Red Cross was doing across the region. I said that's nice, but I still didn't understand why they weren't in NO. To my amazement, she patiently explained it to me. I even called back to verify what she said. This time she asked if I was media, I said no, just a concerned and confused contributor.

So here goes: Homeland Security (her term, not mine) told the Red Cross DO NOT enter New Orleans and says this still now. And why, you may ask? Not Security. Not worker safety. Not lack of access. It was because people would be drawn to the Red Cross food and they wouldn't want to go to be evacuated. So I asked: "The people starving and dying at the convention center yesterday couldn't get Red Cross food and water because they would be drawn to the food at the convention center, where they were, and not want to be evacuated from the convention center where no evacuations were going on or planned and all the while they are dying". (Actually, it was a couple questions.) She went back into her spiel about all of the other good work they were doing. When I asked again, she said yes, that was true. She seem relieved to admit it.

In closing, I asked if she asked this question before since she was very familiar with the answer she gave. She said yes. And I promised another donation. Which they will get after this post.

So, the question for Bushies, why was the Red Cross banned from NO when they knew people were starving? Could it be they were saving the convention center rescue until Bush's visit today? It certainly seems like it. Doesn't it?

Red Cross National Affairs number (202-303-5551)

[kimpossible]

1. This finally made my head explode

There are no words.

:nuke:

[walldude]

5. There's words alright

words like Criminal Negligence, Manslaughter, Homicide. They are withholding aid to these people. They are killing American People. They have gone off the deep end. I'm afraid of what they are going to do next.

[Eloriel]

13. More and more looks to me like something else entirely

ATTN DU RESEARCHERS -- LIHOP/MIHOP evidence stacking up
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4588088&mesg_id=4588088

[mom cat]

29. You are the greatest.

[NMMNG]

2. F*cking insane

People have been going without water and food. Some have been going without critical medications such as insulin. The Red Cross could have been alleviating their suffering while they waited for rescuers, yet the morons in our government would not let them. People have become ill, and others have died thanks to this foolish decision.

Our nation is run by a group of moronic $hitheads.

[ailsagirl]

7. No-- they're not morons-- it's their agenda

They're the cruelest, most sadistic, effing SOBs I've ever encountered.
:grr: :mad: :puke:

I honestly think they get off on watching suffering and death.

HOW MUCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO TRASH OUR COUNTRY???

They've pulled so much shit yet THEY'RE STILL HERE!!!

WHAT THE HELL DOES IT TAKE TO GET RID OF THIS DESPICABLE LOT??

(I'm not shouting at you-- I'm just very, very angry)

:rant:

[Tigress DEM]

16. RE: HOW MUCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO TRASH OUR COUNTRY???

Sept 24-26 WASHINGTON DC!!! Call for IMPEACHMENT. LOUDLY.

[NMMNG]

17. What are the chances of us getting away with a coup?

:shrug:

[bj2110]

3. I feel helpless.... this so disgusting, that I know it has to be true...nt

[Not_Giving_Up]

4. It's on their website

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4524

E-mail that info to every media outlet that you can...I already have!

[Hello_Kitty]

6. What the fucking hell!?!?

Okay now I know this shit is obvious. They are DELIBERATELY keeping aid from the victims to advance their neo-con economic agenda. Motherfucking assholes!!! :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[bvar22]

8. Well Done, Eric J.

You have posted VERIFIED FACTS, not rumor.
You are a better journalist than anyone on TV.
Thanks for the information!

On Edit: Nominated!

[Eric J in MN]

18. You're welcome. Steve Rose wrote it. (nt)

nt

[SeattleGirl]

9. Sick! Just F-ing sick!

This is outrageous! They are withholding food and drinkable water from these folks ON PURPOSE! I cannot wrap my head around this!

Well, I guess they figure they can't let the darkies and the poor white trash out, 'cause everybody knows you just can't trust 'em.

:puke:

[barbaraann]

10. This is going to be like the "coffee and doughnuts" WWII problem.

It will haunt them for several generations.

[kedrys]

11. [speechless]

WHAT???!!?!?! :mad:

I heard mentioned somewhere (I think it was on ABC News) that a trucker said his truck was loaded with supplies Monday, but that "for some reason" his bosses wouldn't release him to go to New Orleans until yesterday.

We need to get to the bottom of this. I can't f@cking believe what's going on. :grr: :nuke:

[SeattleGirl]

12. I saw that too

and had posted about it on a thread yesterday.

[Gloria]

14. We need a timeline.....BTW...I'm expecting any "investigation"

to turn into a coverup. I don't trust Collins OR Lieberman

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. Here's a long-term timeline by Kevin Drum starting in Jan 2001:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_09/007023.php

We need a very complete timeline starting from the forcast track of Katrina and going through every day.

[markus]

15. The Red Cross sucks anyway

Whatever you think of the Salvation Army on other issues (and I have skipped the Xmas kettles the last several years) these people are the real heroes of these tragedies, perhaps the last true xians in American.

Like my sister said after Camille, if you want to talk a few miles barefoot through broken glass to get a blanket and a cup of coffee, the Red Cross is your outfit.

If you want water and hot food and clean clothes and a phone and a ride out of town and help finding a place to stay in your new town and help finding a job, or if you say and need food while you live in your home (and not in a shelter) and cleaning supplies to clean up after the mess, you want the Salvation Army.

[RoyGBiv]

21. Afraid so ...

I volunteered for several years with the county emergency management (formerly civil defense) outfit. Our job was typically storm spotting (the heart of tornado alley) and helping victims after a storm went through.

I never once went to the scene of a destroyed neighborhood without finding the Salvation Army already there, set up, handing out coffee, food, blankets, whatever was needed. Sometimes the Red Cross showed up a few hours later. I know one couple that lost their home, and when they rebuilt, several months later, they got a *bill* for medical services from the Red Cross.

I'm not sure this was typical. The local Red Cross was horribly managed and notoriously corrupt, but it's always stuck with me.

[Stephanie]

19. BushCO wants to exterminate the NGO's and privatize everything

There's no profit in non-profits - why allow a relief operation to go with out giving your buddies an opporunity to skim some off the top. They want to kill the NGO's and replace them with Halliburton.

[incapsulated]

20. I want a criminal investigation

This IS criminal homicide if I ever heard it and it's right on their website. I'm taking a screenshot of it as well.

I truly cannot believe this, will the outrage never end????

"The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city."

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4524

Edit:

I can just hear it now: "Once you start giving those niggers free food, they'll never leave the city and will come here in herds...."

[Nothing Without Hope]

22. AMAZON.COM account for Red Cross donations: already over $4 MILLION given

I've been watching, and over about the last 5 hours, over $680,000 has come in.

(Also posted in the "Hurricane Disaster Relief Information And Resources" thread, but it's near the bottom and hard to see. I posted in GD here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4596204&mesg_id=4596204
but it has gotten little attention.)

American Red Cross Hurricane Relief

Here's the page with the information:

http://www.amazon.com/paypage/PELYGQVJ8Q7IB

You are paying: American Red Cross (americanredcrosshurricanerelief)

As of 1:00 AM ET Sat Sept 3:
Total Collected: US $4,680,031.31
# of Payments: 47175

Privacy Notice: If your donation is $250 or more, Amazon.com will share your name, credit card billing address, and the date and amount of your contribution with the American Red Cross.

Details from American Red Cross

American Red Cross Hurricane Relief

Victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm that hit the Gulf States. American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest-hit areas of Katrina's destruction, supplying hundreds of thousands of victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling, and other assistance to those in need. Privacy Notice: If your donation is $250 or more, Amazon.com will provide your name, credit card billing address, and donation amount to the American Red Cross, and the American Red Cross will provide you with a receipt for your donation. Other than this, Amazon.com will not share information about you with the American Red Cross. Amazon.com has waived all customary Honor System fees associated with your contributions to the Red Cross. Thanks in advance for your participation during this critical time. The American Red Cross name is used with its permission. For more information about the American Red Cross, please call 1-800-HELP NOW or e-mail [e-mail]. Learn more about Amazon.com's support of nonprofit organizations, including the Amazon.com Nonprofit Innovation Award, at www.amazon.com/nonprofitinnovation.

Questions about this recipient or its Web site? Contact: [e-mail]

Want to revisit this page? Visit: http://www.amazon.com/paypage/PELYGQVJ8Q7IB

[riverwalker]

24. I heard Malloy and jumped out of bed

(and I have to get up at 4 am)
I am media blasting to all outlets I can find.

[Mabus]

25. What about the other two?

Patwah's Operation Blessing and the Salvation Army, are either of them getting in?

Why is FEMA telling people to donate to the RC if they don't allow them in? They trying to build a fund for the rest of the hurricane season or is this going to be another round of "charities ripped people off" ala 9/11? Remember when the Falafel King was raging against the Red Cross after 9/11?

[Sydnie]

26. I just fired off a letter to my local paper about this

We must expose this and I mean today! People are dying and falling deeper and deeper into despair. Depression and desperation are might controllers in behavior and they are banking on both of those reactions.

It must stop TODAY.

[stickdog]

27. My head just exploded.

Even though I'm 9/11 LIHOP, this kind of callous murder (without the forever war "payoff") is simply incomprehensible to me.

How can anyone justify such a policy?

[jbnow]

28. I believe it because

several days ago I heard "they" weren't dropping water into NOLA because "they" didn't want to encourage them to stay. Oh yes, dying was much better?
It was longer ago then 48 hours since I heard it (it isn't in my recent post list) and I am not sure when I posted it I knew who was stopping them or noted who said it. But it wasn't just about the red cross, it was even about the military bringing in water.

Then in the last couple days there was so much confirmation about medical staff and people with supplies and busses or gear were not being let it.

Now how must the police or guard keeping helpers out feel about that job? I wondered who ordered it.
And really hoped anyone who died after that order was given would result in a felony charge.

[Eric J in MN]

30. They're stopping people from leaving New Orleans.

From Digby via Fox News:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2005_08_28_digbysblog_archive.html#112571033355120776

Now Geraldo comes on and he freaks out, begging the authorities to let people still stuck at the convention center walk out of town. Shep comes back and he says they have checkpoints set up turning people back to the city if they try. (wtf?) They are both on the verge of tears.

Sean says they need to get some perspective and Shep screams at him "this is the perspective!"