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<font size=3><br>
</font><font size=4><b>"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere!" <br>
International Call to Defend Public Housing and Stop Neo-Liberalism in
New Orleans<br><br>
</b></font><font size=3>The struggle for affordable housing and the right
to return in New Orleans is far from over! If anything, the shameful and
illegal City Council vote for the demolition of public housing has given
greater clarity to the social struggle in New Orleans. To advance this
struggle, the Coalition to Stop the Demolitions is calling on all of our
allies and supporters in the social justice movements throughout the
United States and the World to stand with us on Friday, January 25th and
Saturday, January 26th, 2008 for the International Days of Action against
the demolition of public housing. <br><br>
<b>Our General Aims and Objectives <br><br>
</b>The principle aims of our struggle are to stop the advance of
neo-liberalism and disaster capitalism in New Orleans and the Mississippi
Gulf Coast. To accomplish this mission we must end the march of
privatizations and dispossessions, including the demolitions of public
housing that are ravaging the Black majority and working class of the
city. We aim to curtail this march by exerting as much political pressure
and economic reprisal as we can on the US government, particularly the US
Senate and New Orleans City Officials, and the corporate interests that
seek to gain from the misery of the displaced and dispossessed. <br><br>
Neo-liberalism is a conservative or right wing ideology and political
program that seeks to restructure the governing institution of the state
to facilitate profit realization and maximization for transnational
corporations and other private capital interests. The ideology and
program seeks to accomplish its goals by eliminating taxes and social
service spending, privatizing state services and institutions (such as
housing, education, health care, pensions, water, electricity, etc.),
deregulating markets, and eliminating various protections for workers
(such as the right to form labor unions) and the environment (like
various protection laws). <br><br>
<b>The International Days of Action <br><br>
</b>The Coalition is calling on its supporters everywhere to engage in
actions that target the US Government, particularly the US Senate and its
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, on either Friday, January
25th or Saturday, January 26th. Where these targets are not accessible,
we are asking supporters in the US to focus on other members of Congress.
On the International level, we are asking that our supporters to focus
your attention on US Embassies and/or raise our issues and demands within
your existing actions. <br><br>
The International Days of Action were also chosen by the Coalition to
stand in support of the mobilization calls of the World Social Forum
(WSF) and the US Social Forum (USSF) for an International Day of Action
on January 26th, 2008 to unite the social action of the world's
progressive social movements against imperialism and neo-liberalism.
<br><br>
<b>Other ways you can support the efforts of the Coalition <br>
</b>1. Make a donation to support the ongoing
organizing, coalition building, and mobilization work of the Coalition.
You can make a tax-deductible donation to: the Mississippi Disaster
Relief Coalition (MDRC). Mail to: The Mississippi Disaster Relief
Coalition P.O. Box 31762 Jackson, MS 39286. <br>
2. Produce media stories (articles, editorials, and
radio, television, and internet broadcasts) covering the struggle for
housing and human rights in New Orleans and promoting the just demands of
the Coalition. <br>
3. Promote the "Stop Da Demolitions" Mixtape.
Available for download at
<a href="http://www.peopleshurricane.org">www.peopleshurricane.org</a> or
<a href="http://www.mxgm.org">www.mxgm.org</a>. <br><br>
<b>The Coalition to Stop the Demolition calls on our national and
international allies to support our demands, which are as follows:
<br><br>
</b>1. No Demolitions – reopen the existing units and
rebuild dignified housing at former public housing sites.<br>
2. Guaranteed one-to-one replacement for all public
housing residents.<br>
3. All available public housing units should be made
available for the homeless and those likely to face homelessness from the
pending loss of rent vouchers and trailer recalls. <br>
4. The Federal government needs to suspend demolition
until they complete their own investigation of Housing and Urban
Development head Alphonso Jackson regarding the illegal no-bid contracts
he awarded to his cronies. <br>
5. Rent control (at pre-Katrina rates) to provide
deeply affordable housing so that all will be able to return to the
city.<br>
6. Stop the privatization and gentrification of the
city.<br><br>
<b>Resident Principles for Guiding Action <br><br>
</b>1. All actions should be non-violent.<br>
2. There should be no weapons or drugs at any actions,
and no alcohol or drug or weapon possession at any action.<br>
3. No destruction or defacement of resident property.
<br>
4. No coalition meetings without resident knowledge and
input<br>
5. No media without residents or resident
knowledge.<br>
6. Focus on defending public housing and affordable
housing in the city for all.<br><br>
<b>Federal Government Contact Information<br><br>
</b>George W. Bush - 202-456-1111<br>
Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of HUD - (202) 708-1112<br>
Mary Landrieu, US Senator, (D-LA) 202-224-5824; Fax: 202-224-9735<br>
David Vitter, US Senator, (R-LA) - (504) 589-2753, DC Office (202) <br>
224-4623<br><br>
<b>Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee contacts – demand
that they approve Senate bill 1668:<br><br>
</b>Senator David Vitter: New Orleans Office (504) 589-2753<br>
Senator Christopher Dodd (202) 224-2823 <br>
Senator Tim Johnson (202) 224-1638<br>
Senator Jack Reed (202) 224-4642<br>
Senator Charles Schumer 202-224-0420<br>
Senator Evan Bayh (202) 224-5623<br>
Senator Tom Carper (202) 224-2441<br>
Senator Robert Menendez (202) 224-4744 <br>
Senator Daniel Akaka (202) 224-6361<br>
Senator Sherrod Brown (202) 224-2315<br>
Senator Robert Casey (202) 224-6324<br>
Senator Jon Tester (202) 224-2644<br>
Senator Richard Shelby (202) 224-5744<br>
Senator Robert Bennent (202) 224-5444 <br>
Senator Wayne Allard (202) 224-5941<br>
Senator Michael Enzi (202) 224-3424<br>
Senator Chuck Hagel (202) 224-4224<br>
Senator Jim Bunning (202) 224-4343<br>
Senator Mike Crapo (202) 224-6142<br>
Senator John Sununu (202) 224-2841 <br>
Senator Elizabeth Dole (202) 224-6342<br>
Senator Mel Martinez (202) 224-3041<br><br>
<b>New Orleans Mayor and City Council Contact Information<br><br>
</b>Mayor Ray Nagin – 504.658.4900<br><br>
Arnie Fielkow 504.658.1060
<a href="mailto:afielkow@cityofno.com">afielkow@cityofno.com</a><br><br>
Jacquelyn Clarkson 504.658.1070
<a href="mailto:jbclarkson@cityofno.com">jbclarkson@cityofno.com</a><br>
<br>
Stacy Head 504.658.1020
<a href="mailto:shead@cityofno.com">shead@cityofno.com</a><br><br>
Shelly Midura 504.658.1010
<a href="mailto:smidura@cityofno.com">smidura@cityofno.com</a><br><br>
James Carter 504.658.1030
<a href="mailto:jcarter@cityofno.com">jcarter@cityofno.com</a><br><br>
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell 504.658.1040
<a href="mailto:chmorrell@cityofno.com">chmorrell@cityofno.com</a><br><br>
Cynthia Willard-Lewis
<a href="mailto:504.658.1050cwlewis@cityofno.com">
504.658.1050cwlewis@cityofno.com</a><br><br>
<b>Resources<br><br>
</b>1. Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund website
<a href="http://www.peopleshurricane.org">
http://www.peopleshurricane.org</a> <br>
2. Defend New Orleans Public Housing
<a href="http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/">
http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/</a> <br>
3. World Social Forum (WSF)
<a href="http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/index.php?cd_language=2&id_menu=">
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/index.php?cd_language=2&id_menu=
</a><br>
4. United States Social Forum (USSF)
<a href="https://www.ussf2007.org/">https://www.ussf2007.org/</a>
<br><br>
<b>Contact Information <br>
</b>For more information email
<a href="mailto:action@peopleshurricane.org">
action@peopleshurricane.org</a> or call 504.458.3494. <br><br>
In Unity and Struggle,<br>
Kali Akuno<br>
National Organizer, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement<br>
Coalition to Stop the Demolitions <br><br>
<br>
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