Unfounded? Stories Violence and Rape Countered By New Orleans Residents

by David Van Deusen

New Orleans, LA, -Initial media reports of widespread violence and rape amongst hurricane survivors may have been overstated. The Associated Press is reporting that at both the City Center, and the Superdome eyewitnesses failed to substantiate such claims. On the contrary, many contend that it was the “thugs and criminals” who took the lead in rescuing people, keeping them fed, and providing water [‘Looters Denounced But Also Called Heroes’ –AP, 9/2/05]. National Public Radio has reported likewise [‘This American Life’ –9/11/05]. Many New Orleans residents I spoke with agreed. On September 8th I asked city residents about such allegations at the two open bars in the French Quarter, both of which are also serving as community centers.

Joe Belome, a bartender at Johnny White’s on Bourbon Street takes issue with the recent stereotypes of violent looters. Joe paints a different picture. Referencing the large stockpiles of food and water accumulated behind the bar, he explains that a portion of it was brought and donated by the very people who are being portrayed as criminals.

“Street thugs are just donating things to us to help people out. That’s the kind of community we have here, ” said Joe.

Several blocks away at Molly’s, I spoke with the pubs owner Jim Monyham. Upon being asked about the initial reports from the Superdome, he becomes agitated. In a loud voice Monyham proclaims, “[the allegations of violence and rape] and not true! They are lies!”

Mike Powls, 46, sits calmly at the bar drinking a cold beer. Prior to the storm he was a taro card reader in Jackson Square. Powls depiction of events contradicts the reports of general mayhem.

“I live right off of Rampart Street so I saw thousands of people leaving the Ninth Ward and heading, unfortunately, to the Superdome. I saw people share the only pair of shoes that they had. I didn’t see any acts of violence. I saw people just trying to help one another… The people have been good. I haven’t seen any problem with violence. ”

Powls continues, “This whole image of the poor people coming from the Ninth Ward being this uncontrolled mob is absolute BS. Like I said, I was right where the people were coming from, and I didn’t have any problems with anyone.”

“The main thing [is] how humane the people were… Everybody said, ‘hello’, ‘how are you’, ‘good luck.’ They’d tell you where to go to get things. It was heart warming, because even people that were in worse shape than I was in, much worse shape, would do things that were helpful, and I’m very thankful for that… I saw the best of people, and that includes people from the Ninth Ward,” recalls Powls.

Three days earlier I spoke with a New Orleans evacuee at a shelter in Baton Rouge. The evacuee was a young Black man in his twenties. I asked him if “gang members” had been playing a positive or negative role in the crisis. In response he simply smiled, and said, “I’m still here, ain’t I?”

*David Van Deusen is a member of the National Writers Union, UAW Loal 1981. He recently spent five days in the New Orleans area. He is a resident of Moretown, Vermont.