New Orleans Prisoners and Hurricane Gustav
To All CR members, Allies, and Comrades of New Orleans, Prisoners and Families of New Orleans needs your help immediately!If you haven't heard already Hurricane Gustav is headed for New Orleansand is predicted to be a category 3 hurricane, the same as HurricaneKatrina. There will possibly be a mandate for all people (outside ofprisons and jails) of New Orleans to evacuate starting tomorrow August29th, the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. It is predictedthat hurricane Gustav will pose great flooding potential regardless ofits category rating, the levee that broke by elected official'sdecisions during Hurricane Katrina has not been fixed to it'spotential, or replaced. The over crowding Orleans Parish Prison, located in New Orleans, holds2, 500 prisoners (this count is not certain, due to lack ofinformation given to the public.) Although not official, we haveinformation that the Prisoners of Orleans Parish Prison will beevacuating to Angola Prison and Hunt Prison in the next coming daysand are also prisons that can be affected by Hurricane Gustav due toovercrowding. During Hurricane Katrina there were prisoners able to evacuate andothers who remained locked in their cells with a minimal chance ofsurvival. Prisoners were left in flooded cells, with no food, and hadminimal ventilation, to say the least. Family members, of prisonerswho were held at Orleans Parish Prison, are still in the fight tolocate their loved ones who had been evacuated to other prisons duringKatrina. Due to the flooding, lack of organization and care from NewOrleans Department of Corrections and elected officials, prisoner'srecords were also missing. As a result, prisoner's constitutionalrights have been violated.This abuse can not happen again! What will happen to the prisoners of Orleans Parish Prison located inNew Orleans this time? Critical Resistance (CR) is demanding that the elected officials ofNew Orleans will not create the same devastating wrongs as they did tothe prisoners of Orleans Parish Prison during hurricane Katrina. 1. we demand a full and safe evacuation of all prisoners2. we demand to know what the evacuation plan for prisoners is3. we demand to see a public document about that plan immediately4. we demand information about how we can find people after an evacuation We are urging every member, ally and comrade of New Orleans across thecountry, to make atleast one call to: Sheriff Malrin Gusman: 504.827.8505(James Carter's secretary said "Orleans Parish Prison is Gusman's prison")James Carter: 504.658.1030(Criminal Justice Council Member who is able to put pressure on thesheriff even if they say they can't)You can also send an email: JCarter@cityofno.complease put in your email subject: How will you protect prisoners this time? Please call as many times as you can to put pressure on them and letthem know our demands and it is their job to be accountable tous!!!!!!!! For further information from us please contact Critical Resistance New Orleans:Mayaba: 917.385.5472 or mayaba@criticalresistance.orgKoolblack: 504.813.4714 or koolblack@criticalresistance.org (If you can't get through due to evacuation please contact:pilar@criticalresistance.org for further information) In solidarity,Critical Resistance