Report from International Tribunal on Hurricane Katrina

[babylonsister]

Report from International Tribunal on Hurricane Katrina
Submitted by davidswanson on Mon, 2007-09-17 14:30. Evidence

1) Press Release from PHRF: International Tribunal Issues Preliminary Findings -- Bush, Blanco, Nagin Committed Crimes against Humanity

snip//

After hearing nearly 30 hours of testimony by hurricane survivors and experts -- covering government neglect and negligence in 15 areas, ranging from police brutality to environmental racism, from misappropriation of relief to gentrification -- the jurists announced their preliminary findings.

Jill Soffiyah Elijah, the Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice Institute at Harvard Law School and Chief Judge for the International Tribunal on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, announced the Tribunal’s preliminary findings “It is our view that the U.S. government has committed crimes against humanity particularly in relation to its failure to maintain functional levees that should have protected the City of New Orleans from flooding; ... it was the reckless disregard and, in some instances, negligence of the U.S. government, the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans that created the devastation we continue to see today.”

Elijah also announced that the Tribunal made preliminary findings that the federal, state and local governments are guilty of violating the human rights to life, dignity and recognition of personhood; the right to be free from racial discrimination -- especially as it pertains to the actions of law enforcement personnel and vigilantes; the right to return, resettlement and reintegration of internally displaced persons; the right to be free from degrading treatment and punishment; the right to freedom of movement; the right to adequate housing and education; the right to vote and participate in governance and the right to a fair trial; the right to liberty and security of person and the right to equal protection under the law. Both actions and failure to act by the governments had disproportionate devastating impact with respect to race and gender.

The jurists announced that they would deliver their final verdict on December 8, 2007 -- the second anniversary of the Katrina Survivors’ Assembly. In the meantime, prosecutors will be submitting additional evidence and videotaped affidavits from an additional 25 survivors.

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/26856

[Sapphire Blue]

1. Recommended; this should be front page headlines nationwide.

:kick:

[EFerrari]

8. I couldn't agree more.

k&r

[jojo54]

2. I've been saying for years that B*sh is trying his damnest

to make this a 2 class nation - those 1% who are his "friends", making up the rich, corporate upper class; and the low, lower, lowest 99% who are everyone else, once classified as middle or lower class, mostly blue collar workers.

[Sapphire Blue]

3. kick

:kick:

[chasitynola]

4. I know people in New Orleans appreciate

that other people are not letting this rest. It is so incredibly sad that the people in this area were shipped off to random cities in this country and not allowed a good opportunity to return. My family left the area and had a hard time returning and we make a very decent living. For people working minimum wage, it is an impossibility. No return tickets is the cruelest thing imaginable. And the "Road Home Project" is a total joke. Families were scattered to the winds with no real hope of being reunited in their own home town.

[babylonsister]

5. Welcome to DU, chastitynola!

:hi: I was very glad to see this, too, even though Katrina didn't touch me physically. Too much evil has happened to the victims of that storm and this admin. Groups like this hopefully will keep the focus on who's responsible for that evil, and I'm not talking about the storm.

[uppityperson]

6. k&r, welcome to DU!

I hope you are managing and wish you the best. Amazing how much crap there has been and still is.

DU has a hurricane survivors forum, hasn't been very active recently, but wanted to let you know anyway.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=360

[Swamp Rat]

9. Way'at chasitynola!

Welcome to DU, dawlin'! :hug:

[jus_the_facts]

7. Blah blah blah....still won't be a goddamned thing done about it. n/t

[Swamp Rat]

10. k&r

[Richard Steele]

11. K&R