A-Infos (en) US, New Orleans, FTAA local solidarity demo

["Drifter Bob" <fire_ant@earthlink.net>]

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    We did a local demo here in New Orleans in protest of the FTAA and in
solidarity with our sisters and brothers protesting at the event in Canada.
About 150 people representing a variety of groups, notably the IWW, an
anti-electric bill group, and the Colombia action network, some student
groups from Tulane and UNO, some anarchists groups, and even the Green 
Party was involved... met at the corner of Canal and Basin streets, 
under the statue of Simon Bolivar.  
After a few short speeches, and  interviews for the several press representatives 
who were there, we hoisted banners, signs, and black flags, and marched about a
mile down canal st., a major thoroughfaire in New Orleans, blocking traffic.
    We finally reached the international Trade Mart building (a skyscraper
where most of the 30 or so foreign consolates in New Orleans are located and
several federal agencies related to trade) and entered the lobby, where we
chanted our slogans to the intense irritation of what the press later
described as a "stone faced" man, who was franctically calling police.
Police arrival was possibly delayed by the fact that the huge French Quarter
festival was taking place simultaneously nearby in the French Quarter, and
the whole area was thronged with swarming tourists.
    Finally we went back outside and somebody suggested we hoist one of the
flags on the ITM building flag poles, which we promptly did, and the sight
of a black and red flag flying at that site was quite impressive to me!  One
of the IWW fellow workers suggested ITM had seen the light and capitulated
(perhaps one day they will), but as the demo had gone well, when a fairly
large contingent of police arrived we dispersed.
    That night and the next day (today) local media coverage was widespread
and very favorable.  Four TV stations did stories covering our demo and
broadcast interviews from 3 of our spoksepeople.  Our interviews came across
very articulate and well informed about the issues.  The local CBS affiliate
which rebroadcasts its local news show 24 hours a day on Cable TV, did an
especially sympathetic piece and displayed our web site address prominently
for "anyone interested in finding out more about the FTAA"
    This is all very unusual for New Orleans where the media is normally
very conservative and the community at large often cynical and apathetic
about all political matters.  Yet NAFTA has hit this region hard,
environmental concerns are becomming more pressing now that coastal erosion
and saltwater intrusion has begun to seriously impact local fishing and
shrimping industries.  There is a sense of change in the air here and we
mean to exploit it to the maximum.
    I hope fellow worker Jeff Brite may add something to my report as he was
one of the bright lights of the event...

DB


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