The film of NO evictions should be a call to revolution!

[Atman]

This is outrageous. I understand that some areas are devastated, but people with perfectly good homes and their own stockpiles of food -- in short, the people who were actually prepared -- are sitting in handcuffs on a flatbed truck, having been pulled from their homes by armed men. WTF? Who will these people hold accountable when the return to their looted homes, or when some jerk-off know-nothing Bush crony orders their neighborhood razed to make way for HalliburtonLand Theme Park and Oil Refinery?

Every constitutional precept we've held dear for 200 years is being dragged out into the street just like the NO residents. The only difference is, ALL OF US should be kicking and screaming, not just the people being forced from their homes at gunpoint, having committed no offense whatsoever against The State.

[malaise]

1. It's gonna get real ugly

Ordinary people will identify with this big time.

[JDPriestly]

2. Scandalous.

The authorities will say they are trying to prevent epidemics and clear an area that cannot be policed. We will never know the truth because we cannot trust the Bush administration to tell the truth.

[JDPriestly]

3. Are the forcing the upper crust white residents to leave?

Who is on the flatbed truck? I don't have a TV. Please elaborate.

[Atman]

8. They showed one resident in handcuffs, crying, on the back of a truck

A man forced from his home, shirtless, arms bound behind his back. This man is NOT a criminal, yet here he is, shackled, half naked, on national television. His Crime Against The State? Not wanting The State to "assist" him.

This ain't America, kids.

[freemen2005]

4. VIDEO ??

someone post a link to the video please!!

[freemen2005]

20. Anyone got video footage/soundbytes?

[Divernan]

5. The fatal problem with your position is the toxic environment of NOLA

A city and its residents cannot survive without potable water. t will be many months before the water system can be cleaned out and put on line again. Even then toxins will remain in the ground and in every item which was covered by the flood water.
As was discussed on DU beforehand, it the levies gave way and the city was flooded, the result would be toxic water followed by toxic sludge after the waters subsided. The water there is currently deadlier than the air around ground zero was to the first responders, and even to the surrounding residents who were lied to by Bush et al and told it was safe to return to their homes. I visited ground zero 4 months after 9/11 and you could still smell this awful acrid smell - and if you smell it, that means there are minute particles still floating around. The asbestos fibers alone which many breathed in take from 10 to 20 years to develop into lethal mesathelioma or asbestosis.

People working in NOLA now are cautioned that even getting the water on their skin will allow toxins to get to their vital organs.
Since such deadly effects take time to evidence themselves in the human body, it is difficult for people still in NOLA - who are probably all still in a clinical state of shock all ready - to comprehend the dangers of staying.

If you can find some independent chemist/biologist to state that it is safe to stay in the city, please quote them.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. Not only that...

The city doesn't really have functioning emergency services at this point. This means that if you accidentally start a fire while cooking, the FD either won't get to it or will have to distract itself from the more important task of keeping the gas leaks from burning the city to the ground in order to save your stupid ass, and to keep you from burning down your entire neighborhood of "perfectly good" homes. EVERYONE who doesn't need to be in NO right now needs to get out of the city. If putting people in handcuffs is what it takes, so be it.

[Atman]

7. This is NOT "a city and its residents"

These are people who ARE prepared, who HAVE food and water. They are not a burden on The State, yet are being forced to BECOME burdens on The State. If those few remaining residents -- who are on high ground in dry, undamaged homes -- want to stay, make 'em sign a waiver that "we warned you" and move on. IT IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO STAY IN OUR DAMNED HOMES. Damned, literally, but it is for us to decide.

Please don't fall for the toxic sludge line. There is a lot of that, but look at the maps of the city flooding. There are still many areas with running water and electricity. Even these people are being forced to leave.

There is something much larger at stake here than the effects of toxic water. Like BushCo's attempts to get Blanco to sign over the National Guard, there are always, always ulterior motives with BushCo. Now, residents are threatening to start shooting at troops if they're forced to move. What is the purpose in this? What?

I don't care about what independent biologists or chemists say. What about independent Americans who have a constitutional right to stay in their undamaged, electrified, well stocked homes?

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Fire is the bigger issue at the moment

Plus if anyone dies from anything at this point, if they could have been evacuated, the Schiavo freaks will be back in no time.

A lot of this is CYA stuff unfortunately. I think some of it is for show to get other people to come out, but the NO authorities have promised to do it as gently as possible.

What I'm seeing in the parishes is that once they get the flood water out and pick up the bodies, they are also back flushing the water system and then people can go back in.

The next step is to make sure that neighborhoods are reopened as soon as possible and I do believe that the Mayor is working toward that goal.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

15. Hate to ruin your rant, but I believe the people being evicted now...

...have running water and only lack electricity. These homes have NEVER been under water.

[KyndCulture]

9. But how long can that food last?

Remember the air is toxic now too. I know they don't want to leave, but it's for their own safety now. Some of the diseases are airborne now. What choice does the mayor have really? He's trying to save their lives.

[Atman]

11. What choice does the mayor have really?

What choice? How about Leaving the people alone and concentrating on fixing the fucking city. How many hundred/thousands of men and women are putting in man-hours on door-to-door evictions? What could the be doing instead to help this devastated city? Check your priorities. Now, more than ever, DO NOT COUNT ON GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. Everyone has an ulterior motive here, be it profit or simple ass-covering.

[benEzra]

14. We're talking about unflooded, undamaged neighborhoods here...

the "it's for their own safety" line is bogus when applied to people who are just without power and running water, and the air in those areas (no dead bodies, no floodwaters, no excrement in the streets) is FINE. Are you saying that if my neighborhood loses power and running water, the police and National Guard should be able to kick down my door, drag me off in handcuffs, and ransack my house???

This is absolutely and completely ILLEGAL. It is a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment and several others. No one can "suspend" the entire Bill of Rights just because a natural disaster strikes, and the fact that FEMA/NOPD/whoever is doing just that and apparently getting away with it should be cause for great alarm to anyone who values individual choice and self-determination.

[WePurrsevere]

16. Has "Military Law" been declared? /nt

[benEzra]

17. To my knowledge, no...

but even if it were, the Constitution allows ONLY the right of habeus corpus to be suspended, and ONLY temporarily, during time of WAR. The military is just as subject to the Constitution as anyone else, and anyone who says the military can "suspend" the Constitution is wrong. If the military, or police, or National Guard, or whoever, ignores the Bill of Rights, they are acting illegally.

Interestingly, many states allow the use of deadly force in self-defense against police/National Guard/other authorities under certain circumstances for this very reason, i.e. if a soldier or police officer is illegally kicking in your door and threatening you, he is NOT acting under the law, but is acting on his own as a violent criminal and is treated as such by the law. I do not know if Louisiana has such a provision or not, however.

[WePurrsevere]

19. I'm sorry .. I think the term I was looking for may be "martial law"...

I'm not saying they should or even have a "constutional" right to force folks out of their homes, even "for their own good." However I also must admit that, although I know the earlier part of the Constitution rather well I don't know every single change made to it over the centuries so may have missed one that addresses and even allows for this.

If it were MY furkids, MY belongings and MY home... let's just say it would not be a pretty picture if anyone tried to take it from me. :nuke:

[benEzra]

22. Louisiana has no provision for Martial Law, legally.

They can and have decared a "public health emergency," which gives the state and local authorities some additional powers, but such powers do NOT include the authority to kick down the doors of homeowners and confiscate their firearms, or anything else. It doesn't abrogate the Bill of Rights, or the Louisiana state constitution, for that matter (which explicitly protects the right of Louisiana citizens to own and use guns).

[WePurrsevere]

24. Thank you... Do you know if Feds can declare such a thing for an area?

Quite frankly I'm not sure why and how they legally think they can get around the Constitutional issue. I don't recall a "public health clause" in the Constitution but it's been awhile since I've read beyond the first 10 or so. They're not using Emminent Domain are they? Even with that though folks have a right to fight the gov for their private property.

Of course I've heard of the public health issue used to go in and remove humans and animals before but this is usually only in verydire circumstances where that particular home is considered a health issue for the surrounding area/neighbors (and even there I wonder if the "public health" issue is too often abused).

This whole darn thing is very upsetting on so many levels. I want to know the what the gov thinks gives it the legal right to do this? It's so very much "illegal search and seizure" and as far as I'm concerned once again the way the gov is handling this is very messed up since once again they're victimizing the victims.

[Atman]

12. Here is why people don't want to/shouldn't leave, dammit!

What would YOU do if you were being forced from your home at gunpoint, not told where you're going, and not sure your home would even still exist when you returned? Keeping in mind that your home is high and dry and well stocked with food and water...

----

"From the moment I heard about Falls Creek being scheduled to receive refugees I had two thoughts run through my mind:

1. What a beautiful place to be able to stay while trying to get your life back in order.

2. What a terrible location to be when you're trying to get your life back in order.

The first thought is because Falls Creek is nestled in the Arbuckle Mountains of south central Oklahoma. One of the more beautiful regions of the state. It would be a peaceful and beautiful place to try to start mending emotionally, and begin to figure what you're going to do next.

The second thought comes because Falls Creek is very secluded and absolutely no where near a population center. The closest route from Falls Creek to a connecting road is three miles on a winding narrow road called "High Road" (It gets that name for two reasons - it's goes over the mountain instead of around it like "Low Road" does, and it's where the teenagers of the area go to party). The road has not a single home on it for over 3 miles. After battling that 3 miles over mountains, you'll find yourself about 5 miles from the nearest town, Davis, Oklahoma, population ca. 2000. This is no place to start a new life.

A few pictures headed toward Falls Creek over High Road to give you a feel of the seclusion...

The occupants of the camp cannot leave the camp for any reason. If they leave the camp they may never return. They will be issued FEMA identification cards and "a sum of money" and they will remain within the camp for the next 5 months.

My son looks at me and mumbles "Welcome to Krakow."

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/fema.html

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. Does anyone want to continue to say that we're not a dictatorship?

[oc2002]

18. I think that people who are determined to stay should sign a waiver.

The situation there is very dangerous even in areas that where not flooded, and for people with some food and water to last them for weeks.

[TWiley]

21. Thank Gawd Republi-KKK-Lanz love and protect Freedom

What would we all do without their tender touch?

[Romulus]

23. link to some video

Disclaimer: this link has been posted in other internet forums, including here at DU. I haven't had a chance to see it because of a workplace "no streaming video" IT policy:

http://tradecraft.us/Videos/NewOrleansGunConfiscationSmall.avi