White verses Black has no place in disaster and recovery funding. We demand FEMA explain what they based their funding decision on. Louisiana had nearly 80% of the storm damage from two hurricanes and received only 55% of federal relief funds. Mississippi, with 23% of the damage, received 45%of the relief funds. Of the 70% of homes that were destroyed or severely damaged in New Orleans they were owned or rented by low-income people and families that was comprised of vulnerable populations, predominantly minority, immigrants, elderly, disabled and 68% of that were black, and of that number 57% of pre-Katrina residents were renters in New Orleans. Why did Mississippi get a larger percentage of the money based on the percentage of damage. Is it partisan politics or White verses Black, Biloxi, Mississippi, is 71% white, with a mayor, governor, and two senators who are all Republicans. New Orleans. Louisiana, was 68% black pre- Katrina, with a mayor, governor, and one senator who are Democrats and one Republican senator. Which ever it is, it has no place in a declared disaster and recovery program. This is an American outrage that demonstrates that there is continuing shame of racial division in our country. It is unacceptable to selectively grant funds based on race or politics. FEMA’s discretion should be used in a fair and equitable manner. We urge all concerned citizens take a stand. We call on Louisiana Governor Kathleen B. Blanco, Governor-Elect Bobby Jindal and Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti to thoroughly investigate FEMA’s award of funds to Mississippi and Louisiana.
The Governor and State Attorney General should do everything in their power to ensure that the people of Louisiana’s constitutional rights are protected.
We also call on NAACP, Revs. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton to take up the fight to insure the rights of the people of Louisiana are protected and unequal treatment by FEMA is put to an end. It is time for us to express our outrage at such a blatant injustice, and it should not be aloud to continue.
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I can't speak for all of those implications, which if true are heinous, but I would caution against assuming they are absolutely true.
Rather than put the responsibility only in the lap of racism and partisonship, I would look at the different ways in which each state's elected officials and volunteer services reacted to the storms. I think you will find a huge difference that does not relate to race, but to political expediency.
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