Arrests in New Orleans Protests
12/21/2007 07:49
Arrests in New Orleans protests
Police and protesters outside New Orleans City Council, 20/12/07
In pictures: City hall clashes
Fifteen arrests were made at Thursday's protests against planned demolitions of public housing in New Orleans, police have told the Associated Press.
Police used stun guns and pepper spray during the protests, which took place outside a meeting where the City Council voted in favour of the plan.
Nine people were injured, four of whom were taken to hospital, police said.
Critics say replacing the storm-damaged structures with mixed income housing will mean fewer cheap homes.
Police said the 15 arrests were made on charges ranging from battery to disorderly conduct, AP reported.
On Thursday, following hours of debate and clashes outside the meeting, the City Council voted in favour of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's plan to replace the decades-old structures damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
One of the campaign leaders, Endesha Juakali, said the protesters would fight on and planned "an all out effort" to prevent bulldozers from carrying out the demolition order.
Partially-demolished housing block in New Orleans (15 December 2007)
Tensions have been high in New Orleans over a lack of housing
Before the meeting, critics of the plan had argued that the plan would further restrict the stock of cheap housing at a time when the city is still struggling to rebuild from Katrina.
They also said the brick buildings were still sound and only needed to be renovated.
"It is beyond callous, and can only be seen as malicious discrimination," said Kali Akuno of the Coalition to Stop the Demolition.
"It is an unabashed attempt to eliminate the black population of New Orleans."
But supporters of the demolition plan argued it would allow developers to take advantage of tax breaks and build new neighbourhoods with an allotment of low-income housing.
Thousands of families from the southern states hit by Hurricane Katrina are still living in government-funded temporary housing, including caravan parks.
Police and protesters outside New Orleans City Council, 20/12/07
In pictures: City hall clashes
Fifteen arrests were made at Thursday's protests against planned demolitions of public housing in New Orleans, police have told the Associated Press.
Police used stun guns and pepper spray during the protests, which took place outside a meeting where the City Council voted in favour of the plan.
Nine people were injured, four of whom were taken to hospital, police said.
Critics say replacing the storm-damaged structures with mixed income housing will mean fewer cheap homes.
Police said the 15 arrests were made on charges ranging from battery to disorderly conduct, AP reported.
On Thursday, following hours of debate and clashes outside the meeting, the City Council voted in favour of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's plan to replace the decades-old structures damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
One of the campaign leaders, Endesha Juakali, said the protesters would fight on and planned "an all out effort" to prevent bulldozers from carrying out the demolition order.
Partially-demolished housing block in New Orleans (15 December 2007)
Tensions have been high in New Orleans over a lack of housing
Before the meeting, critics of the plan had argued that the plan would further restrict the stock of cheap housing at a time when the city is still struggling to rebuild from Katrina.
They also said the brick buildings were still sound and only needed to be renovated.
"It is beyond callous, and can only be seen as malicious discrimination," said Kali Akuno of the Coalition to Stop the Demolition.
"It is an unabashed attempt to eliminate the black population of New Orleans."
But supporters of the demolition plan argued it would allow developers to take advantage of tax breaks and build new neighbourhoods with an allotment of low-income housing.
Thousands of families from the southern states hit by Hurricane Katrina are still living in government-funded temporary housing, including caravan parks.