Wednesday, January 17, 2007

New Orleans: Letter from St. Bernard Occupation

New Orleans: Letter from St. Bernard Occupation

We are the individuals currently occupying the St. Bernard Housing Project. We are inside as guests of, and at the request of undisclosed current lease holders. We are members of an organization called Mayday NOLA, a housing rights organization “committed to the belief that housing is a human right, and that all people are entitled to economic justice. Many of us have been or currently are homeless ourselves, so we are dedicated from within the communities most affected by economic injustice.”

We are occupying St. Bernard Housing Project because we were contacted, and have been requested to do so by St. Bernard residents and other public housing residents. We are not outside agitators. We are individuals working at the request and under the direction of those most effected by the demolition of New Orleans' public housing system. The residents are the voices demanding justice, and we are inside because of their organizing, and in solidarity with their struggle for their homes. It is our intention to continue to occupy St. Bernard in protest until the scheduled demolitions are canceled permanently, or the residents are satisfied that their demands have been met. On this we are not negotiable.

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