October 2005

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Military in New Orleans Requests Help from Anarchist Relief Project

Chuck Munson, chuck@mutualaid.org, writes for Infoshop, an online anarchist portal. This is an edited version of an article originally published on September 16, 2005, © New Orleans Indymedia, nonprofit republication encouraged.

The situation in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans got a bit more surreal this week when the US military asked an anarchist collective for help in providing basic services to local residents.

Anarchist volunteers from outside New Orleans contacted mutual aid groups organized by local residents in order to set up an emergency relief project. The volunteers are also working with people in the many surrounding areas that haven't yet been assisted by the Army, Red Cross, or FEMA.

Malik Rahim is a local activist who has served as the catalyst for most of the rebuilding and mutual aid work being done by residents and outside anarchist volunteers. He reports,
"We've opened up a clinic and are opening up a mobile clinic. We've set up a food distro [distribution center] that has fed 300-400 people. We've distributed around 500 personal hygiene kits. People have come together to found the Common Ground Collective. There are people from all over the world here: volunteers from Denmark, doctors from France, Veterans for Peace, and Cindy Sheehan. We are doing whatever it takes to fill the void of the needs that exist."

The Common Ground Clinic and other projects are being organized on a cooperative, non-hierarchical basis, which stresses the importance of solidarity instead of charity. This process requires lots of organization, communication and frequent meetings. The volunteers and residents have two meetings each day. The first meeting in the morning is similar to the spokescouncil style seen at activist convergences. It brings together people involved in the various collective projects: medical care, food, media, and community clean up. In the evening, clinic volunteers have a meeting that focuses on the running of the clinic.

The volunteers with the Common Ground Clinic are hoping to set up some satellite street medical clinics around the devastated city.

A military medical clinic commander asked the folks running the Common Ground Clinic if they could lend a few medics and doctors to the military until the military sets up a "permanent" health clinic on Newton Avenue on September 19.

Michael Kozart, a doctor at San Francisco General Hospital, who volunteers at the Common Ground Clinic, reacted to the military's request.
said, "Why aren't you all [the military] helping us transport people to the medical center? Why don't you provide us with some generic drugs? Why doesn't the military help us with funds? Why don't you provide some of your personnel so we can train them in some basic medical care?"

"Why are you duplicating relief efforts? This is Bureaucracy 101. They are duplicating our service. We have it worked out. We just need a few resources to expand our service [around the city]."

"It's like they are opening up a Starbucks to compete with an effective mom-and-pop operation. The military has been sending military Humvees around our neighborhood, blasting amplified messages in front of the clinic telling people to go to different places for care. The locations change each day and they never give our location. They've finally decided to set up a permanent clinic after being so disorganized. Nobody wants to get care from people dressed up in military gear who drive around in shiny new Humvees."

Residents and volunteers in Algiers focused on neighborhood clean-up on September 15. Algiers was never flooded -- it is across the river from downtown New Orleans and the clinic is in sight of the infamous Convention Center -- but the streets are littered with broken glass, trash, and limbs from damaged trees.

Taahirah Nadir, an Algiers -resident, was anxious about her future and the future of the city.

"It's like a ghost town. It's scary. I am a small businessperson. I own and operate two day care centers. We took care of 200 kids a day. All the kids are gone. Our area wasn't hit that bad. They evacuated many people. You don't know if they are bringing people back."

"I tried to contact people. We applied with FEMA. Haven't heard anything. We tried the Red Cross. The number they gave us was a joke. I'm trying to keep my chin up."

Malik Rahim said, "The morale here is good now. The volunteers have helped. We ride around on the bikes [brought in by volunteers]. So many of the people impacted by the tragedy have high blood pressure. The people here need people to talk to -- the volunteers are talking to people."
Infoshop News asked Malik what he thought of the visit by George Bush to New Orleans which was scheduled for later on Thursday.
"I have no opinion of him, FEMA, or the Red Cross. They are challenging the work we are doing. We opened up the first medical clinic in Algiers [with help from Mayday DC]. They've turned doctors around. Nobody from the state, federal, or local government is interested in helping us."

"We need more personal hygiene kits: toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo (small traveler size units). We need more batteries and generators. We could use an RV for mobile clinic that we plan to set up. People here need first aid equipment and vitamins. We need a steady supply of non-perishable food. We need more doctors, medics, and medical supplies. We could us environmental specialists who can do soil testing -- we don't want to take the government's word. We need ice and fresh water. And we could use skilled carpenters and plumbers."

More information on the Common Ground Health Clinic can be found at <www.commongroundrelief.org>. An updated list of needed items is also available. Material and donations can be sent to Common Ground Health Clinic, 1401 Teche St., Algiers/New Orleans, LA 70114-5842.
More information on mutual aid relief efforts can be found at <www.infoshop.org/hurricanekatrina.html>.

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