News :: Poverty & Urban Development : Resistance & Tactics

Community Support in Algiers, New Orleans

Author

~Bradley
bradley*riseup.net (verified)

Date Created

14 Sep 2005

More details...

On September 13, the Common Ground collective in Algiers, New Orleans began the day with a meeting to discuss everything from staying healthy to the difference between martial law and a state of emergency. A medic at the wellness center said that the best way to maintain to the health of the community is be sure that everyone washes their hands often and to not share plates and utensils.

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supplies used to create personal hygiene kits

After the meeting, volunteers assembled personal hygiene kits and dropped them off at the Common Ground Wellness Center at 1401 Teche St. where hundreds of people from New Orleans have been treated and received supplies.

A little bit later in the day, Iasha, Errol and Christopher came by to see if they could have some bicycles. The folks from Austin who brought the bicycles were happy to set the three of them up with bicycles. Iasha, Errol and Christopher said that all their friends have left town and they are the only children left in the neighborhood. Francisco, an artist from Austin, drew a portraiture of Errol as Rosa and Vinny conducted an interview. Iasha, Errol and Christopher also left with a bag of toys, crayons and a coloring book.

Meanwhile, Jackie was busy creating a large wooden mast for the brand new community radio station which is currently being called "The Battle for Algiers." As this was going on, Cindy Sheehan and the Veterans for Peace showed up to drop off supplies and get some video footage.

Soon we had a crew on the roof of Malik's house and installed the mast and antenna for the radio station. Everyone seems to be very excited to have a community radio station for Algiers where people can make their own media and play the music they like. The station got on the air with the help of people from New Orleans, Austin, Houston, New York City, Santa Cruz, Portland, Indiana and elsewhere. We are now broadcasting with ten watts of power at 94.5 FM. Radio volunteers are greatly needed to help train people in Algiers and other parts of New Orleans on the fine art of maintaining a community radio station.

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If you can make it out to Texas, Mississippi or Louisiana, your help is definitely needed.

Also, if you can donate money to support independent media for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, that would be very helpful as well.

Vinny and I have put out a request for donations. Please read the following article for information on one important way that you can help out. thanks.

Support Independent Media in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/18525/index.php

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