NATIONAL SOLIDARITY

New York Solidarity Coalition for Katrina/Rita Survivors The mission of the New York Solidarity Coalition for Katrina/Rita Survivors was formed to unite survivors as they fight for economic stability, healthcare, voting rights, adequate housing, and the basic rights guaranteed to them as U.S. citizens.  Though our efforts address the immediate concerns and needs of survivors in New York, our long term goal is for all survivors to have the right to return to a their homes in the Gulf and the right to return to cities that support and reflect the populations have been displaced.

 

NYSC believes that the voices of survivors must be at the forefront, and support survivors as they advocate on the own behalf.  The NYSC coalition organizes survivors and supporters as they connect the aftermath of the Katrina and Rita disasters to the struggle for human rights including educational, economic and critical justice.

Katrina Solidarity Tour hits California

April 21st – 28th, 2007

Solidarity_westcoast_tour.pngFrom Saturday, April 21st through Saturday, April 28th, 2007 People’s Hurricane Relief Fund (PHRF) organizers Darrel “Sess 4-5” Warren and Kojo Livingston will be touring through California to raise awareness about the ongoing plight of Hurricane Katrina Survivors and the struggle for a just reconstruction and self-determination in the Gulf Coast.  

This tour comes at a very critical time in the struggle for a just reconstruction in the Gulf Coast. It is preparation in many respects for a major summer offensive being launched to expose the ongoing injustices being committed against Internally Displaced Persons by the US government and to advance their just claims for restitution and human rights. PHRF strongly encourages all of its allies, supporters and justice loving people in California to support and build tour by attending the events and spreading the word.  

The main objectives are to promote:

  1. Building the National Solidarity Network.
  2. Awareness of the Affordable Housing Campaign.
  3. Endorsing the Mutual Aid and International Solidarity Conference (visit www.mutualaidsolidarity.com).
  4. Supporting the US Social Forum.
  5. Participating in the 2nd Survivors Assembly.
  6. Attending the International Tribunal on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Tour schedule

San Diego - Saturday April 21st at 6:00pm

Coffee House On Broadway street
2991 Broadway @ 30th street

Featuring New Orleans rappers and grassroots organizers Sess 4-5 and Kojo Livingstone from the Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund

  • Tchaiko Kwayana from California Cares for Katrina's Kids
  • Down But Not Out short film showing with filmmaker Arthur Saenz
  • Hear Katrina survivors speak about the hurricane
  • Update on Mumia's case from IAC. Come learn about the current situation in
  • New Orleans, and find out how we can support the Gulf Coast Self-Determination and Reconstruction Movement.

Call (619) 557-0156 for more info and publicity

Los Angeles Monday, April 23rd

Venue and details TBA 

Santa Barbara Tuesday April 24th 6-9pm

McCune Conference Room
HSSB building on the UCSB campus
Contact darwin@umail.ucsb.edu for more info and publicity

Santa Cruz Thursday April 26th, 7pm - 9pm

  • UCSC students who have volunteered in New Orleans,
  • Paul Ortiz (UCSC African American Studies professor)
  • Curtis Reliford (Santa Cruz resident who brings convoys of relief supplies to New Orleans), and
  • Don Williams (Rainbow Theater)
  • Down but not Out (a 30-minute documentary filmed this summer by UCSC alumni David Zlutnick and Arthur Saenz)
  • Kinetic Poetics
Venue TBA

UCSC Campus contact: call (831) 682-0287 for more info and publicity

San Jose Friday April 27th

San Jose State University
Time and place TBA
Call Scott Myers-Lipton, Ph.D. (510) 508-5382 for more info and publicity

Oakland Saturday April 28th 6pm

1433 Webster St. (Close to 12th St. BART)
Local Spoken Word Artists TBA
Call (831) 331-7611 or (510) 544-9045 for more info and publicity

EVENING IN SOLIDARITY with HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVORS

Fundraiser for International Tribunal on Katrina & Second Survivors Assembly

Saturday, APRIL 7 @ 7 p.m.
Centro del Pueblo, 474 Valencia St., San Francisco
(@ 16th Street; one block from 16th St. Mission BART)

Solidarity statements from
• Clarence Thomas, Co-Chair, Million Worker March Movement
• Daniel Gluckstein, Coordinator, International Liaison Committee (France)
• Javad Jahi, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
• Chloe Underdue, Revolution Youth (SF)
Film on the Gulf Coast by David Zlutnick titled, “Down But Not Out”
Music by Leith Kahl & spoken word artists
Featured speaker Kali Akuno, executive director, People’s Hurricane Relief Fund - Oversight Committee

Donations requested at door (No one turned away)
If you cannot attend, please send a financial contribution to help defray the costs of the Katrina Tribunal and the Second Survivors’Assembly.
Mail a check to PHRF-OC, 1418 N. Clairborne #2, New Orleans, LA70116.
Make payable to PHRF and memo check: “April 7 Fundraiser”
For more information, call (415) 646-6469 or (504) 301-0215.
PDF_icon.gifClick here for flyer 

Forum Sponsored by Bay Area Solidarity Committee, Million Worker March Movement, ILC, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Revolution Youth and Socialist Organizer

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2006
For more information contact:
Linda Warren, Lagniappe Caravan (206) 914-6288
Leith Kahl, PHRF (206) 940-3807
SEATTLE RIGHT TO RETURN COMMITTEE AND TALIB KWELI SAY:
SUPPORT THE LAGNIAPPE CARAVAN!
DOWN WITH THE LOUISIANA RECOVERY AUTHORITY!
AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL MUST CONVENE!
On Sunday, November 19, from 2 to 3:30 PM at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S., Seattle, WA, nationally and internationally renowned hip hop artist Talib Kweli will be taking time out from his latest tour to voice his solidarity with displaced and returning hurricane survivors of the Gulf Coast.  He stands in solidarity with the People's Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition (PHRF/OC), the Lagniappe Caravan, and the International Tribunal on Katrina.
The hurricane survivors of Louisiana are marching on their governor's office on Saturday, November 18th, in a demonstration organized by the People's Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition, demanding “We Want Our Money”. Governor Kathleen Blanco has hijacked over $10 billion from the Federal Government. Congress appropriated this money to assist displaced people and to reconstruct New Orleans and other areas damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To control these funds, Blanco created an extra judicial body, accountable fundamentally only to her, called the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA). The LRA is wholly unrepresentative of Louisiana’s population, particularly of New Orleans, in both its race and class composition. The LRA represents the interests of major developers. PHRF/OC, Seattle Right To Return Committee, and Talib Kweli demand:
1.       That the LRA be disbanded and a representative institution or body is created to oversee and govern the recovery and reconstruction process;
2.       That renters are compensated for their losses and be provided with resources to aid with moving costs, deposits, and rent assistance;
3.       That all of the public housing units in New Orleans be reopened immediately;
4.       That there be no demolition of any of the public housing units in New Orleans;
5.       That rent gouging cease and decent affordable housing be made available; and that funds for the total replacement of privately owned homes be made available
Members of Lagniappe Caravan and Common Ground in Seattle declare their solidarity with the demonstration and action by the PHRF. The action is occurring on the same day that the caravan is holding a benefit comedy show, here in Seattle.  Lagniappe Caravan and Common Ground speak in unity with PHRF: “We Want Our Money Back, Too!”  Since the funds have been hijacked, they find that the approximately 200,000 residents that were displaced from the New Orleans area alone are still struggling to return home, including over 5,000 evacuees stranded in the Seattle area.  As a response to this problem, they have formed Lagniappe Caravan, a Hurricane Katrina survivor-led organization that is planning to help survivors relocate, reunite, and participate in the rebuilding process (Lagniappe is a commonly used New Orleans word meaning “just a little bit more”).  The first caravan will leave in spring, 2007, and will be of no cost to survivors who wish to return home.
The PHRF has also called for an International Tribunal to try the governments of the United States, Louisiana, and the municipalities of the Gulf Coast Region with the crimes against humanity that have been committed against an internally displaced people inside the United States.  An initial Commission of Inquiry, including delegates from South Africa, France, Venezuela, and Brazil, has traveled to Biloxi and New Orleans, and taken testimony from survivors that clearly demonstrates the need to convene such a tribunal, which has been called for 2007.  The Seattle Right To Return Committee and Talib Kweli join in the call for  this tribunal.
This event is endorsed and organized by:
Lagniappe Caravan & Common Ground in Seattle, P. O. Box 70873, Seattle, 98133
People's Hurricance Relief Fund, 1418 N. Claiborne Ave, Suite 2, New Orleans, LA 70116, (504) 301-0215
Common Ground, 1415 Franklin Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117, (504) 947-0270
People's Institute Northwest, (206) 938-1023
Change The Game, (917) 407-3018
Hip Hop Back To Its Roots, (206) 386-1177

Socialist Organizer (The Organizer Newspaper) Seattle, (206) 940-3807; (206) 355-6572

PDF_icon.gifClick here to download the flyer 

Click here to read "Hip Hop aficionados bust a move" in the Seattle Times 

Hip Hop Artist and Activist Talib Kweli

teams up with PHRF to address the ongoing struggle

 of Katrina Survivors in Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles

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click here to read about the Katrina Neighbors Solidarity Tour

The War continues against Black people in New Orleans.


Your invited to a Frontline Report from New Orleans featuring:
Kali Akuno, Executive Director of the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund
Malcolm Suber, National Organizer for the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund
Arlene Eisen, long term volunteer with the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund.

Wednesday, November 8th 7:30 pm
522 Valencia Street (between 16th and 17th Streets in San Francisco off the 16th and Mission Street BART)

Sponsored by the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund, Bay Area Katrina Solidarity Network, Bay to Gulf People’s Pipeline, and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. Donations Appreciated.
For more information call (415) 305-7835
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