Generally, the events that unfolded in the aftermath from Hurricane Katrina may go down in history as even more catastrophic than the hurricane itself. With that said, the bridge blockade could very easily be near the top of the list of unfortunate events. As some people have argued, there was a strong element of 'racial profiling' that led to many of Louisiana's victims being neglected, humiliated, dehumanized and in fact still are suffering today.
As I contemplate the article entitled, Bridge Blockade after Katrina from our text Urban Society, I am both ashamed and appalled that the event even occurred in the first place but even more horrifying is that the people who created the blockade still unapologetically defend their decision. Their defense is really pitiful in that their claim was that it was all in an effort to prevent the spread of looting. Also they indicated their lack of available resources, but where these people were coming from they had none. People were attempting to travel over the bridge in an effort to escape deplorable conditions, many being children, elderly and others in wheelchairs. As Rev. Jesse Pate, pastor of the Harvest Ripe Church in Gretna, has said, "...but during that time, (law enforcement) valued property over the lives of those people. And that's where the tragedy is". My contention is that the reason why the Cantwells, who are white, were not allowed to cross the bridge, along with others, was that it would prove that the Jefferson Parish law enforcement officials were racist.
We are a nation, which supposedly, stands as a leader in an effort to help those in need all over the globe. But what happened to our policies here on our own soil? Why did it take our government so long to respond and provide for its citizens? We must never let this unfortunate lack of respect for human kind to be allowed to ever happen again.
As I contemplate the article entitled, Bridge Blockade after Katrina from our text Urban Society, I am both ashamed and appalled that the event even occurred in the first place but even more horrifying is that the people who created the blockade still unapologetically defend their decision. Their defense is really pitiful in that their claim was that it was all in an effort to prevent the spread of looting. Also they indicated their lack of available resources, but where these people were coming from they had none. People were attempting to travel over the bridge in an effort to escape deplorable conditions, many being children, elderly and others in wheelchairs. As Rev. Jesse Pate, pastor of the Harvest Ripe Church in Gretna, has said, "...but during that time, (law enforcement) valued property over the lives of those people. And that's where the tragedy is". My contention is that the reason why the Cantwells, who are white, were not allowed to cross the bridge, along with others, was that it would prove that the Jefferson Parish law enforcement officials were racist.
We are a nation, which supposedly, stands as a leader in an effort to help those in need all over the globe. But what happened to our policies here on our own soil? Why did it take our government so long to respond and provide for its citizens? We must never let this unfortunate lack of respect for human kind to be allowed to ever happen again.
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