Disasters; Hurricanes FEMA and Povertina -OpEdNews.Com Progressive, Tough Liberal News and Opinion
OpEdNews.Com Progressive, Tough Liberal News and Opinion: "The community traditions of New Orleans have generally existed outside the police and white power structure of the city. For example, Mardi Gras Indians, one of the central cultural traditions of what's known as Black Mardi Gras, have always faced police repression. Earlier this year, as the Indians were parading on St. Joseph’s Night, scores of officers descended on the scene and disrupted the event, scaring the children present and arresting several of the performers.
Several weeks later, at a city council hearing on the incident, Tootie Montana, the chief of chiefs of the Mardi Gras Indians, spoke. At 82 years old, Tootie has been a Mardi Gras Indian Chief for five decades. He captivated the assembled crowd with details of a long history of police repression, tied into racial discrimination, beginning with a police crackdown at his very first Mardi Gras. Tootie ended his speech with the words, “this has to stop.” Those would be his last words. Tootie Monatana stepped back from the microphone and collapsed to the floor. He was pronounced dead of a heart attack shortly afterwards.
His funeral was a moving combination of cultural celebration and political demonstration. Thousands and thousands of people came out, dressed in all manner of costume, to commemorate the life of this brave fighter for freedom.
Longtime community activist Jerome Smith fired up the crowd, saying 'This is about a life that has passed, but it is also about the struggle against institutionalized racism in our city.' The link between New Orleans culture, especially the culture of Black Mardi Gras, and liberation was clear.
The white Mardi Gras Krewes of Rex and Momus are seen as the unofficial, backroom leadership of the city A central moment of Mardi Gras is when the Kings of Rex and Momus greet each other. According to The Wall Street Journal, it is the leadership of these Krewe’s that is currently living uptown, with a heliport and Israeli security team, planning their vision of the corporate reconstruction of the city. "
Several weeks later, at a city council hearing on the incident, Tootie Montana, the chief of chiefs of the Mardi Gras Indians, spoke. At 82 years old, Tootie has been a Mardi Gras Indian Chief for five decades. He captivated the assembled crowd with details of a long history of police repression, tied into racial discrimination, beginning with a police crackdown at his very first Mardi Gras. Tootie ended his speech with the words, “this has to stop.” Those would be his last words. Tootie Monatana stepped back from the microphone and collapsed to the floor. He was pronounced dead of a heart attack shortly afterwards.
His funeral was a moving combination of cultural celebration and political demonstration. Thousands and thousands of people came out, dressed in all manner of costume, to commemorate the life of this brave fighter for freedom.
Longtime community activist Jerome Smith fired up the crowd, saying 'This is about a life that has passed, but it is also about the struggle against institutionalized racism in our city.' The link between New Orleans culture, especially the culture of Black Mardi Gras, and liberation was clear.
The white Mardi Gras Krewes of Rex and Momus are seen as the unofficial, backroom leadership of the city A central moment of Mardi Gras is when the Kings of Rex and Momus greet each other. According to The Wall Street Journal, it is the leadership of these Krewe’s that is currently living uptown, with a heliport and Israeli security team, planning their vision of the corporate reconstruction of the city. "
posted by Blackgold at 10:23 PM
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