International Action Center Fact Finding Delegation Tours Area Impacted by Hurricane Katrina

International Action Center Fact Finding Delegation Tours Area Impacted by Hurricane Katrina

Report-back from fact finding delegation: The Gulf tragedy and the anti-war struggle. Teresa Gutierrez, a national organizer for the Troops Out Now Coalition at the Sept. 10, 2005, Emergency Strategy Meeting organized by the Troops Out Now Coalition.

Listen

Watch

Streamed video clips: Interviews with victims from Hurricane Katrina [no special download program required]

Watch > lo | med | hi

September 5, 2005--Representatives from the International Action Center are now in the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

The delegation attempted to visit the Astrodome in Houston this morning, but reported that it is on "total lockdown." They noted that local organizers reported that the stadium is not properly set up to receive the massive influx of displaced people fleeing the devastation.

The team was able to gain access to the George R. Brown Convention Center, which is also being used as an emergency shelter, where they have been interviewing those recently arriving from New Orleans and the surrounding area.

In one interview, a black youth from New Orleans said, "This is not our country. They way black people are treated and disregarded shows that they don't care about us. Bush is flying over in his airplane; why doesn't he bring an aircraft carrier and get people out?"

The delegation reported that local organizers in Houston are preparing for a local protest as part of the National Day of Outrage on September 12 (for information see www.TroopsOutNow.org), to protest the lack of preparation and response to the ongoing catastrophe in the area.

The fact finding tour is on its way to New Orleans this afternoon to report on conditions there.

For interviews, call Teresa Gutierrez at 917.328.6470 or Johhnie Stevens at 646.331.1887.