Worldandnation: Neighboring town denied evacuees
Worldandnation: Neighboring town denied evacuees: "NEW ORLEANS - Confused and desperate, they marched by the thousands toward a bridge that could take them away from the chaos that enveloped this city after Hurricane Katrina.
They were turned back by men with rifles and dogs.
In stark contrast to Houston's welcoming embrace, the small town of Gretna, La., is accused of turning its back on a neighbor at the most trying time in its history.
And because most of the evacuees were black and most of Gretna is white, the episode has stirred charges of racism.
The Gretna police chief defends his decision to close the bridge. His town of 17,000, he said, feared for its safety from a tide of evacuees.
But the mayor of New Orleans said the bridge was one of the few escape routes out of his flood-ravaged city and questions Gretna's motives.
The steel bridge is 3,000 feet long. But the divide between the cities seems much bigger than that.
"
They were turned back by men with rifles and dogs.
In stark contrast to Houston's welcoming embrace, the small town of Gretna, La., is accused of turning its back on a neighbor at the most trying time in its history.
And because most of the evacuees were black and most of Gretna is white, the episode has stirred charges of racism.
The Gretna police chief defends his decision to close the bridge. His town of 17,000, he said, feared for its safety from a tide of evacuees.
But the mayor of New Orleans said the bridge was one of the few escape routes out of his flood-ravaged city and questions Gretna's motives.
The steel bridge is 3,000 feet long. But the divide between the cities seems much bigger than that.
"
posted by Blackgold at 5:56 PM
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