Greens in New Orleans and Around the US Mobilize in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina

By Scott McLarty
Co-Chair, Green Party Media Committee

On August 8, 2005, the Green Party of Louisiana became the state's newest qualified political party when Greens turned in the required fees and paperwork in Baton Rouge at the Elections Division of the Secretary of State. For the first time since 1916, when the Socialist party lost its qualification, Louisianans could vote for a qualified progressive party on the ballots.

Within a month, Hurricane Katrina set Louisiana Greens on a new mission, as they established relief efforts for survivors and challenged the Bush Administration and other public officials for the delayed response to the devastation (calling for the dismissal of FEMA chief Michael Brown, who later resigned), disregard for African American and poor white victims, and failure to heed warnings of an impending environmental disaster. Greens noted quickly that the rise in ocean temperatures, a result of global warming, has led to more destructive hurricanes.

The Green Party, which had already called for an immediate end to the US occupation of Iraq, urged the redirection of resources from the war to Katrina relief. On September 4, the Peace Action Committee (GPAX) issued a statement in response to President Bush's refusal of aid from some nations: "The Green Party Peace Action Committee urges the Bush Administration to accept all offers of hurricane relief and aid, from all foreign countries including Cuba and Venezuela."  

In the immediate aftermath, Louisiana Greens, especially in New Orleans, struggled to account for their members and bring relief to devastated areas. Party co-chair Leenie Halbert and Andrea Garland (both from New Orleans) and Romi Elnagar (Baton Rouge) kept Greens across the US informed about those party members who evacuated and those who stayed in New Orleans, and began work on local relief. Malik Rahim, Mike Howell, and others resisted forced evacuation, stayed in New Orleans, and continued to help neighbors in need.

Rahim, a Black Panthers veteran and Green who recently ran for New Orleans City Council, stayed at his home in the Algiers neighborhood (one of the few areas not flooded). His dramatic article "This is criminal" has been widely published and was featured in a September 3 Green Party press release.

Green Party of Florida co-chair Sarah "Echo" Steiner established a safe haven for evacuees on a campground in Florida, and sent water, food, and supplies for delivery to the New Orleans area. The Green-led Minnesota Coalition to Aid Hurricane Katrina Survivors ( www.mncahs.org ) sent buses from Minneapolis to transport evacuees from and provide vital supplies for survivors. New Jersey Greens also sent aid ( http://gpnj.vshost.com/Katrina%20relief ).

The Green Party's Disability Caucus launched a web site to aid survivors of Hurricane Katrina who have disabilities. The site, located at www.immuneweb.org/katrina, includes guides for "Providing Shelter for People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity" and "Providing Shelter for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia," as well as contact information for Caucus members willing to provide housing for survivors or consulting services for shelters and programs serving survivors with disabilities.

Pat LaMarche, the Green Party's 2004 Green candidate for Vice President, traveled from Maine to New Orleans to assist with relief, and has written a series of on-the-scene articles for the Times Record (Maine).

Continuing Green relief in New Orleans

Malik Rahim continues to organize relief in the Algiers neighborhood, assisting medical clinics and self-help operations, delivering food and water to those who need it, clearing blockages, and helping people deal with FEMA and the police, which have been trying to force and intimidate people into leaving. (Read more at www.commongroundrelief.org and www.rebuildgreen.org.) Rahim invites those interested in helping to call him in New Orleans at 504-368-6897 for information on sending help. Assistance can also be sent to Common Ground, PO Box 3216, Gretna, LA 70054.

Leenie Halbert and Andrea Garland have established a relief center to feed 250 people a day (with help from Food Not Bombs) and are planning to set up a medical clinic. They're also working with a 'pirate' radio station that features health and self-help information, news, and music -- currently the only radio station broadcasting in New Orleans.

"It's important to point out that these efforts are led by women," said Halbert. "Women are going into this militarized zone of our neighborhood, restoring trust and bringing love back to our community through this grassroots community organizing."

Halbert and Garland are seeking donations of non-perishable vegetarian food (beans, dried fruit, grains, etc); vitamins, toiletries, water; and rechargeable batteries, cell phones, computers, mobile cards for cell phones. They also encourage people to send caravans of supplies (as some Greens have done already).  Donations can be made on-line at www.Getyouracton.com and www.RebuildGreen.org.

Andrea Garland noted that she early intended to allow the Green Party to use the first floor of her house as an office. "Instead, it will become a medical clinic after they repair the water damage to the first floor," said Garland.

Garland's house formerly featured an art gallery on the first floor. "We held a 'Killer Art' show in yard, with found art and art damaged by the flooding, which drew lots of press coverage."  Garland, who had participated in Cindy Sheehan's antiwar vigil at 'Camp Casey' in Crawford, Texas, traveled to Washington, DC with Halbert and other Greens for the September 24 mass protest against the Iraq war.

On September 21, the Green Party of Louisiana today issued a strong condemnation of plans to suspend US environmental protections in the wake of the Katrina disaster. "The first disaster to hit our state was a natural one. The one following suspension of EPA rules will be a human-generated environmental disaster," Halbert warned. Louisiana Greens also criticized plans to dump flood waters into Lake Pontchartrain, and called for an investigation by reputable scientists to determine the best course of action.

Louisiana Greens remain dedicated to rebuilding the party, calling the Green Party more urgent than ever in the wake of Katrina. For more information, visit www.LaGreens.org and the Katrina relief and press pages at www.gp.org.

---

This article is the work of the author(s) only and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Green Party of the United States.  If you wish to send a message to the editors regarding this or any item on the website, please email us.