The discussion began with the chant “How do you spell rapist? N-O-P-D!”

The New Orleans Police Department recently declared sexual assaults to be “non-emergencies” while claiming to have made great progress on gender discrimination. Officer Gerry Paul of the 5th Precinct is an alleged rapist and still on the force. His accuser describes him using a police hold to pin her arms, while keeping his gun on the nightstand. Even though he would be fired from most jobs for this revelation, he’s only on desk duty. Paul still has his badge and his gun.

Jonny Frayle, a participant in the town hall, commented: “They say they don’t have enough officers, but what they really mean is so many cops are on administrative leave for misconduct.”

Participants agreed that civilians could respond more to mental health crises or domestic violence. The group also recognized that the city should have more services to address gender-based violence, such by providing rape crisis centers, housing for survivors and counseling for abusers.

People in attendance also debated the question of whether or not to jail Gerry Paul. Some were concerned that he could harm others in prison.

“I’m not afraid to say he should go in solitary,” said Toni Duplechain-Jones of New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police. The group generally agreed on the need for community control of the NOPD to hold officers like Paul accountable.

The discussion finally raised the issue of Louisiana’s complete abortion ban, with no exception for rape. Taken together, this ban and the NOPD give abusers a green light and completely eliminate the right to body autonomy.

The town hall resolved to build the fight for NOPD accountability and services for survivors. Real Name Campaign, the host organization, will hold an open meeting on Sunday November 13 at 3 p.m., at the Broadmoor Improvement Association.

#NewOrleansLA #PoliceBrutality #LGBTQRights #NewOrleansPoliceDepartment

New Orleans, LA – The Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition (OPPRC) led a rally outside City Hall before the June 11 city council meeting. The week before, the New Orleans Police Department fired tear gas and rubber stinger rounds at protesters on a bridge 200 feet above the Mississippi River. In response, the rally demanded that the city defund and demilitarize the police.

Sade Dumas of the OPPRC said, “Two-thirds of the city's funds are spent on over-policing and over-incarcerating residents. Those funds can be better used for social services that improve public safety and enhance the lives of all New Orleanians.” Protesters also called for an immediate ban on teargas. Many also favored a community-controlled model for achieving justice and safety.

At the end of the rally, Dumas announced that someone near the facility was hurt. She declared that both the person who was harmed and the person who caused the harm were from the community. Nearby medical students had rushed in as first responders, after marching from a neighboring protest outside Tulane Medical Center. When protesters marched to the other side of Duncan Plaza to see the livestream of the city’s criminal justice hearing, someone announced that the police were arresting a Black woman. Protesters gathered to investigate and support.

Cops prepared to put the community member in their SUV. She demanded they let her go, repeatedly telling them “No!” Concerned protesters arrived at the scene to support her. They relentlessly questioned the police about why they detained the woman but received no answer. Eventually, the officers brought the person into their squad car. Immediately, brave protesters stood in the way of the police cruiser, slowing it to a crawl. The car blared its sirens, which only announced the illegal detainment to everyone in the area. Hundreds of people surrounded the SUV, stopping the vehicle in its tracks.

“Let her go! Let her go!” chanted the demonstrators. They made it clear no one was moving until the police released the woman. Organizers close to the car again asked why the police detained her. The cops finally responded, stating that they were holding her for questioning related to the shooting. Community members reminded the police that they abused their authority. Public defenders on the scene confirmed that police should have just taken a witness statement, without detainment. Cops responded by saying their critics needed to do more research. This condescending reply did not stop the crowd from demanding a release. After nearly 15 minutes of a standoff, the police finally let the woman go into the open arms of her friends and family. Protesters successfully un-arrested her.

The New Orleans Police Department is currently under a federal consent decree. It also denied arresting protesters and firing projectiles at a march the night of June 3. After thorough community pushback, it admitted to all these crimes by that weekend.

Like the un-arrest, the rally at city council also proved successful. Community members submitted over 1500 public comments, the most in the city’s history. The police department responded by saying they would “modify” their use-of-force policies. But this response was about as patronizing as police telling protesters and legal experts at Duncan Plaza to do more research and go home. The people remain committed to revolutionary change.

#NewOrleansLA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #PoliceBruatality #NewOrleansPoliceDepartment

New Orleans, LA – The night of June 3, hundreds of New Orleans protesters climbed the Crescent City Connection to fight racist violence and demand justice for police murders. The Connection is a highway bridge that crosses the Mississippi River to connect the East and West banks of New Orleans. The protesters fought as part of the Black Lives Matter and Justice for George Floyd movements, rallying behind various calls to abolish prisons and police.

“No justice, no peace!” and “Black Lives Matter!” rang up and down the highway. Black participants came right up to the mic to express their disgust for the police.

The New Orleans Police Department showed up in full riot gear and attacked. They launched tear gas, almost starting a stampede on a bridge with a 170-foot drop to the Mississippi River. Then, they beat protesters with clubs, shot rubber bullets, and arrested five demonstrators. This was clear political repression to put down a powerful anti-racist movement. All this after they ‘took a knee’ to feign support for protesters the night before.

“The police and prisons are here to protect the rich” yelled an anonymous speaker. “We can’t talk to cops, we must abolish police and prisons.”

In the neighboring Jefferson Parish on May 28, an officer shot and killed a 35-year-old Black man: Modesto “Desto” Reyes. Desto Reyes was a well-known rapper and Hard Rock Hotel collapse survivor. The protest stood in solidarity with his family, which called their own event the next day at 2 p.m. More demonstrations have taken place over the past week in New Orleans and other Louisiana cities such as Marrero, Lafayette and Baton Rouge.

#NewOrleansLA #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #NewOrleansPoliceDepartment #ModestoDestoReyes