New Orleanians are struggling to regain control of public housing, while homes are demolished to make way for gentrifications.

50% of people who want to return to New Orleans make less then $20,000 a year and have no place to live.

There is a tremendously brave woman right in front...a must see. http://youtube.com/watch?v=5jvhp4iZFd0

Another demonstration in New Orleans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLdoczHS_A0

The website for the organization is
http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/

And on Democracy Now today
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/12/20/the_battle_to_save_new_orleans

New Orleans City Council Members:

Arnie Fielkow - (504) 658-1060 AFielkow@cityofno.com

Jacquelyn Clarkson - (504) 658-1070 JBClarkson@cityofno.com

Stacy Head - (504) 658-1020 SHead@cityofno.com

Shelley Midura - (504) 658-1010 SMidura@cityofno.com

James Carter - (504) 658-1030 JCarter@cityofno.com C

Cynthia Hedge-Morrell - (504) 658-1040 CHMorrel@cityofno.com

Cynthia Willard-Lewis - (504) 658-1050 CWLewis@cityofno.com

George Bush – President - (202) 456-1111

Alphonso Jackson, Secy of HUD - (202) 708-1112

Sen. Mary Landrieu, (202) 224-5824; Fax: 202-224-9735

Sen. David Vitter - (504) 589-2753, DC Office (202) 224-4623

Rep. William Jefferson Phone: (202) 225-6636; FAX: (202) 225-1988

Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin – (504) 658-4900

Let's welcome these phenomenal women out of the Olympia City Jail! They are being released right now at city hall.

Tonight 37 women were arrested at the Port of Olympia. Currently more then 40 people are being held at the Olympia City Jail. It is being reported by the police that the women will begin to be released at 4am. Please stay tuned for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thirteen arrested while containing military convoys traveling through Olympia; community brutalized by Olympia Police Department

November 10th, 2007 - Thirteen anti-war demonstrators were arrested while attempting to contain Stryker vehicles from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from moving through the streets of Olympia, Washington. Three of the arrests took place at the intersection of 4th and Plum St. in downtown Olympia. Ten arrests took place at Union Street and Plum Street near the on ramp to I-5 North where anti-war demonstrators were in lock-down with PVC pipes locking their arms together.

With a commitment to non-violent actions, Olympia Port Militarization Resistance aims to end Olympia’s participation in the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq by stopping the US military’s use of the Port of Olympia. As of 3:10pm all thirteen are being held at City of Olympia Police Department Municipal Jail.

Before arrests were made dozens of protesters and bystanders report being brutalized by the Olympia Police Department (OPD). At 8:30am OPD appeared at the port in full riot gear, just over an hour later police were using batons and pepper spray on demonstrators blocking the shipment and bystanders as well.

Jeremy Pawloski who is reporting for the Olympian Newspaper for demonstrations since Monday, November 5th was witnessed being assaulted by police officers. Caitlin Esworthy reported seeing Pawloski struck in the upper body and shoved him back six feet. Tony Overman, photographer for The Olympian newspaper, was pepper sprayed according to eyewitness accounts. He was previously embedded with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry division while they were deployed in Mosul, Iraq.

Anti-war demonstrators have "locked down" on Plum Street freeway on ramp to I-5 North.

After numerous incidences of police brutality this morning in which an Olympian photographer was pepper spread, bystanders were sprayed with pepper spray, and protesters were beaten and directly aimed at eyes with pepper spray, blockades continue through the streets of our home.

Olympia Port Militarization Resistance have successfully blocked military convoys from reaching Fort Lewis. During convoy movements on Wednesday nights support was seen by soldiers moving Stryker vehicles with raised fist and peace signs as demonstrators chanted, "Love the soldier. Hate the war."

For more information contact Anna-Marie Murano at ammurano@gmail.com, 360-878-9644.

10:30am - Over 30 people were pepper sprayed at Port of Olympia by Olympia Police Department while containing military equipment used in the occupation of Iraq. 15 people need immediate medical attention and ambulance and fire crew are at the scenes.

Olympia Port Militarization Resistance is asking that concerned Olympians go to Market and Franklin with cameras to document police and demonstrator activity.

In related news The Olympian has removed the video of police assaults on demonstrators on Wednesday, November 7th from the website.

Little did I know that I would be endorsing something that sounded as crazy as blocking equipment coming back from Iraq. We are supposed to be happy, right? Having equipment returning is a good thing to some people who look at it as meaning the war is slowing down. To be clear we have more soldiers in Iraq then ever before and just as many contractors (i.e. mercenaries). The war rages on. 3,845 service members are dead and over 1,000 US contractors. 1 million Iraqis are dead, 4 million are refugees, the amount of wounded are enormous. Just because some troops are home safe - although many traumatized and severally injured - nothing changed.

To be blunt, we are doing little to stop it because we don't see the direct affects on our lives. I may not agree with all the tactics taken this coming week, but do realize that the reason people are acting is because of the fact that we have lost power.

We have lost the power of elections, lobbying and changing the minds of our elected officials. "Representative" Brian Baird is a shining example of our loss of power.

We have lost power over our media. A media which doesn't report the truth of the anti-war sentiment or the realities of soldiers lives in Iraq and the absolute devastation we have caused in that county. A media which has failed to report on the effects of depleted uranium has on our community as the contaminated material travels through our streets.

We have lost power over are ports. In a community that overwhelming disagrees with the occupation of Iraq, our Olympia port commission continues to ostensibly support the war by using our ports as extensions of the occupation. Shipments in or out makes our community a military depot.

This picture appeared on The Olympian website from a story about the Kevin Benderman CO support rally last Saturday. Any comments?