Hi, I read Melissa from RW New Orleans Blog.
www.princessmelissa.comThis is what she had to say about that.
New Orleans
Sep 02 2005
I never know how exactly to go about posting a message like this…
I tried contacting my friend Lionel Milton for days, with no response. For those of you that didn't follow Real World New Orleans, Lionel Milton is an artist friend of mine that I met there. We've maintained a friendship over the years.
I started to go insane when I couldn't reach him and finally I got a hold of him ten minutes ago.
He was in Lafayette. He’s on his way now to Texas and then he’s getting on a plane to New York. I told him he can stay with me and J.
He lost everything. All of his artwork. His house. His car. It’s gone.
In my limited conversation with him, he said he’s just happy to be safe and dry.
I asked him if there was any place specifically in New Orleans that he’d like me to mention on the site.
Lionel sent me this message that he’d like people to understand:
“That's the helpless part. There is no direct NOLA spot to make sure the
refugees get this stuff NOW!
For now direct them to the Red Cross. But what is most important is to
educate people on the inhuman desperate situation my hometown folks
are in. Let them know these are people from an unfair educational and
social system that crippled their efforts to evacuate our city.
Let them know these are poor people that have been treated like third world citizens and now it became 200,000 times worst. They are homeless, hungry, thirsty, tired and broken. AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE STORM.
Ask yourself what would you do without food, water, shelter and death all
around you? And there is no hope.
There was a young girl who gave birth to twins under the overpass yesterday. Because of the conditions, of not even the basics, she lost them both. She may die soon too from stress and lack of basic needs like food, water, shelter.
New Orleans has offered so many cultural influences to the world – jazz, blues, Mardi Gras, Voodoo Fest, Jazz Fest, but that is overlooked. Did you even know that the state of Louisiana provides 25% of the US’s oil?
New Orleans citizens are NOT violent looters. They are 2005 third world
refugees in a first class America. Over 70% are black and they have shown us that we have never and will never be true citizens of a nation we helped to build. Even to our death as it inhumanly plays out for the world to see.
They are sending in thousands of troops to maintain a no tolerance for
the looting. Ask yourself this, will each officer have a water bottle
and sandwich for a possible refugee? But there is no doubt they will have a bullet if we get out of line. Ya feel me?”
Listen to the mayor of New Orleans by cutting and pasting this into your browser:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/audio/national/NAGIN_AUDIO.mp3
There is a survivor assistance forum where you can post information relating to family and friends in need. Go here:
http://katrinasurvivors.pepie.com/
Go here for a list of phone numbers set up for cash donations and volunteer services:
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473
Also, there is a temple in Baton Rouge that is helping refugees but they need the following supplies:
diapers, baby bottles, children and adult tshirts, underwear, sneakers, socks, toiletries, dolls, toys and children's DVDs (anything to distract the children from boredom and fear)
You can send those items to:
RABBI BARRY
B'Nai Israel
3354 Kleinert Ave
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
As you know, you can make cash donations to the American Red Cross by dialing
1 800 HELP NOW
You can donate through the Salvation Army as well by dialing
1 800 SAL ARMY
If you are on Long Island, the Salvation Army here is accepting donations locally.
You can call 516 747 4902.
If you are a part of an organization here in New York, Long Island or otherwise, that is putting together an effort and you can use my help maybe somehow, please email me as well.
The benefit at The Downtown on Long Island is tentatively set for Sunday, September 11. When I get more details about the bands and the times, I'll post them.
Thank you.
Updated by: Melissa
Email this topic to a friend
Printer-friendly version of this topic
Bookmark this topic (Registered users only)
