My name is John Calhoun, and I am working with over a dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs and the Orleans Public Defenders Office to plan a Second Line For Equal Justice to raise awareness about the crisis our public defenders office is facing and to encourage our city and state governments to adequately fund indigent defense.
Source: GoFundMe
From Activist Cherri Foytlin:
Feeling a little low. If I’m to be honest with myself, it’s probably exhaustion mostly. But, I’m also worried about my insurance, and FEMA, and my community. And everyone is feeling the stress of being displaced in our own dwelling. We still have three rooms left to pull the carpet out. Water is STILL leaking from the walls. The rest of the floors may need to come up too. Furniture and a mattress had to be thrown away… Don’t get me wrong. I am proud that my six amazing kids, and an unofficial seventh – Logan, have been helping, each in their own capacity. And our neighbor Christine came over to help, and my nephew lil’ Dylan too. And I’m sure you know Karen has been incredible! I’m super glad that there has been no rain since this morning… It’s just that, I’ve worked really hard to provide for my kids, ya know? We all work SO hard. And ya, we’ll survive it, and for sure many others are a lot worse off… but, damn… #thestruggleisreal
Postscript: Do not send me money. If you would like to make a donation on me behalf to #AnotherGulf week of action, I’d appreciate that. All previously planned events are a go, and I think we need it now more than ever.
https://www.crowdrise.com/another-gulf-is-possible-resistan…
Proud to showcase my pal Peter Boutté’s (and Ruben Watts) song about the days and weeks after August 29, 2005 and about days and weeks of other hurricanes too. Peter is a multi-talented artist from one of the proud Creole families of New Orleans who have kept the city fed, built, repaired and with a song (or haiku) in its heart for more generations that most Americans can imagine. Here is his daily haiku from August 29, 2015:
“About Katrina”
When the day is done
They’ll pack their bags and then they’ll run
And you won’t hear shit
And you might wonder why I am still posting about the levee breaks. It’s important to remember that our disaster began on August 29 and has continued for a decade, no matter what they media wants to portray. New Orleanians like Peter have kept the drumbeat of activism going which is vital in order to not lose everything we hold dear.
Two of the grief-filled but somehow repairing moments that we experienced at JazzFest 2006: Springsteen’s Acura set and John’s chilling jazz tent performance.
bless you Bruce.
John Boutte singing Randy Newman’s Louisiana 1927 at JazzFest 2006:
John is the voice of the shared soul of New Orleans.
And fuck you bush, blanco, brownie and nagin.
French Quarter block by block 