News Roundup

New Orleans Revolution Has Begun To Storm Crime

BayouBuzz.com
by Jeff Crouere
January 12, 2007

After years of running scared, being prisoners in their own homes and seeing criminals take over the streets of New Orleans, residents of the Crescent City have finally decided to fight back. The march on City Hall yesterday was an amazing event, one of the best days in the history of New Orleans, for it signaled that the people were ready to start taking command of their city.

I truly believe that the crime march will be a turning point in the history of New Orleans. It will signal a new era of community involvement and a commitment from citizens to make this city safe once again. As a native of the city and a lifelong resident of the metropolitan area, I cannot recall ever seeing such a large march in New Orleans. During Vietnam, hundreds marched in protest and in 1996; hundreds marched on City Hall after the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen murders. But, yesterday, thousands marched, black and white, young and old, male and female. School children were joined by CBD workers, all united in one cause, to stop the killings. Estimates are that over three thousand marchers descended on City Hall to demand action on the number one problem facing the city, violent crime. It gave me chills to see people united in a worthy cause, respectful of each other, and dedicated to the memory of those who have been lost to the violence. I was honored to join them in a march for New Orleans, a march to save the city, to end the suffering in silence and demand that finally “enough is enough!”

Never before in modern history have over three thousand people marched for any cause other than a Mardi Gras parade. The size of the crowd clearly showed how angry and frustrated New Orleans residents are feeling about the violent crime gripping their community. They want their city back and they want their leaders to do something about a deplorable situation.

The best part of the march was that regular citizens of New Orleans addressed the crowd, not politicians. In fact, the politicians were not allowed to speak, bravo. We have seen and heard enough from politicians. Yesterday, it was the people’s turn to show their anger and their frustration with a broken system. It will be a new city going forward. Crime will not end, but apathy has ended. People have decided that they want their city back and want the rampaging violence to cease.

It was shocking, but quite refreshing, to see how Mayor Ray Nagin, Police Chief Warren Riley and District Attorney Eddie Jordan were belittled and criticized by the speakers and marchers. But, every criticism was valid, every bit of outrage justified.

For months, the citizens of New Orleans have heard platitudes and typical political-speak from city leaders about the crime problem. Nothing worked, because the killings tragically continued. The turning point was the horrible murder last week of filmmaker Helen Hill and the shooting of her husband, a doctor.

Yesterday’s march was an expression of collective outrage that hit all the right notes. There was unity and commitment to not let this spirit of cooperation and involvement die with this march. Henceforth, there needs to be continued vigilance, continued supervision of our political leaders and more citizen involvement.

If this sense of community commitment can be continued, the criminals will have no chance in New Orleans. Despite problems in the police force, a broken criminal justice system, ineffective political leadership, citizen involvement can turn the tide.

How? By citizens working closely with the police, reporting suspicious activity, having the courage to come forward if they are a witness to a crime, and serving diligently on a jury. Community and religious leaders need to heighten their involvement and provide outlets for young people and alternatives to crime. Parents need to do their job and supervise their children and serve as law abiding role models.

Just expressing rage at politicians is not enough. Mayor Nagin will be in office until 2010 and Eddie Jordan will be District Attorney for at least another two years. In Louisiana, recalling a politician is practically impossible, so citizens need to somehow deal with these rather incompetent leaders. Waiting for the next election is not an option, as the people of New Orleans need to get involved now in the fight to save their beloved city.

Unfortunately Eddie Jordan was not at the march and his absence spoke volumes. Yet, Nagin and Riley were at the march and hopefully both received the message loud and clear. In fact, Nagin seemed truly shocked and subdued when he met the media after the rally. His glib smile was gone; his laid back cool act was not on display, thankfully. Maybe he finally understands the severity of the situation. Let’s hope and pray.

For if the crime problem is not dealt with immediately and urgently, nothing else matters, not the road home plan, the Saints, the recovery, our history and culture, nothing. People will not live in or visit a dangerous city, one that is totally out of control.

Yesterday, the marchers said loudly and clearly, that they wanted New Orleans to become a vibrant, safe and welcoming city. They showed they are willing to fight for New Orleans. And that is very, very encouraging. Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I was proud to be a New Orleans native and hopeful about the future. As the marchers noted, silence is violence, but the people of New Orleans are silent no more.

Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m. weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.