Consent decrees and ‘misbelieves’

30th July 2012   ·   0 Comments

By Edmund W. Lewis
Editor

Yo, it’s mad hot and raining cats and dogs as we inch closer to the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. With Katrina’s anniversary comes an opportunity to reflect on the many changes that have taken place in this city — the good, bad and ugly — and the many battles we have yet to wage to secure justice for all of those poor souls who were treated so unfairly by federal agencies, charitable organizations and their politically powerful neigh­bors in New Orleans. It’s summertime, but the living is anything but easy or copesetic in the Big Easy. White privilege is still a reality and far too many Blacks with the ability and opportunity to make a difference are still choosing to stand by and do and say absolutely nothing. Such is life in Ante­bellum Disney.

• As we ponder a better way to live and move beyond oppression and constant strife, let us remember the power of words to wake up sleeping giants and move the crowd. Information is power and it is our collective right and responsibility to share what we know with others who find themselves in similar predicaments. Let’s get started.

• How many bounties have the NOPD gotten away with placing on the heads of Black men, women and children in New Orleans over the years?

• Where is the $11 million required annually to pay for the DOH-mandated consent decree going to come from, and what services to the poor and politically vulnerable segments of the city’s residents are going to be cut first?

• How will a mayor who refuses to run an open and transparent branch of city government and insists upon writing “scripts” for various appointed members of city boards and commissions to deal with a Department of Just­ice-issued consent degree that by its very definition demands ac­countability and transparency?

• Why can’t members of the New Orleans City Council vote on any one issue or item without sparking another feud worthy of the Hat­fields and McCoys?

• Who thinks the NOPD can be reformed and overhauled in four years with this mayor and police chief at the helm?

• How many more years, months and days before the powers that be renege on their promises and implode the Iberville housing development?

• What message is the mayor and other elected officials sending to Iberville housing development residents when they assure residents that they are welcome to remain in their current homes but don’t lift a finger to protect them during the recent implosion of the Pallas Grand Hotel?

• If the mayor is half as progressive as he likes to think he is, why can’t he recognize and understand that there is a connection between the oppression and discrimination the Black masses endure in New Orleans and the “culture of violence” that leads to widespread Black-on-Black murders?

• If Chick-fil-a can be so adamant and fiery about opposing gay marriage, why can’t the Christian fast-food chain also take similar stands against pe­dophiles and those who es­pouse white supremacist beliefs?

• Can the average Christian voter who is hellbent on supporting a candidate who is unapologetic about his Mormon faith and a possible vice presidential candidate who is Roman Catholic simply not care what that means in what they have called “a Christian republic” or do they simply hate the idea of enduring another four years of a Black Christian president who has proven he was born in the United States and spoken at great length about his Christian faith?

• Why are there so many scary Negroes in New Orleans who are afraid to speak and are eager to do the bidding of the powers that be?

• Why are so many Black elected officials standing around like they don’t notice as the powers that be continue to tear down Black institutions, destroy Black traditions, dismantle Black neighborhoods and decimate Black schools?

• If it’s true that “faith without works is dead,” why aren’t there more members of Black churches taking the fight for justice, democracy, truth and freedom to the streets?

• Even after Columbine, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Tulsa shootings, the Aurora theater massacre and other incidents, why is it still so easy for white men to gather so many weapons and use them to slaughter innocent human beings without raising any suspicion among law enforcement agencies?

• Why do you think the Depart­ment of Justice refused to allow New Orleans residents to play an active role in implementing NOPD reforms by serving on a civilian oversight committee?

• How and why did the U.S. Department of Justice let the mayor and police chief get away with making it appear as though it was their idea to bring in the Feds to launch a probe of the NOPD and impose sweeping reforms on the department?

• After the Danziger Bridge shootings and the murders of residents like Raymond Robair and Henry Glover, why didn’t U.S. Attorney Jim Letten step up and launch probes of these cases before the family of Ronald Madison began meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder and demanding that something be done to address these unjust crimes?

• How many New Orleans residents are going to let Super Bowls, Saints games, second lines, crawfish boils, Zulu balls and Mardi Gras parades distract them from the monumental task of bringing justice, democracy and equal protection under the law to this city and police department?

This article was originally published in the July 30, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper