Day 331: Something Smells Rotten In Trailerland
Since when do we need to have a government representative along for a press interview? This has just got to be illegal, or at least would have been in Pre-Bush America. I don’t know which angers me more, this Orwellian supervision or the Harrah’s sponsored KAtrina Anniversary plans recently unveiled.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency prohibits journalists from having unsupervised interviews with Hurricane Katrina victims who have been relocated to FEMA trailer parks, according to a report in the Baton Rouge Advocate (7/15/06).
“If a resident invites the media to the trailer, they have to be escorted by a FEMA representative who sits in on the interview,†FEMA spokesperson Rachel Rodi is quoted in the article. “That’s just a policy.â€
The Advocate report, by reporter Sandy Davis, describes two separate attempts to talk to people displaced by Katrina that were halted by the intervention of a FEMA security guard. In the first incident, in a Morgan City, Louisiana camp, an interview was interrupted by a guard who claimed that residents of the camp are “not allowed†to talk to the media.
Any followup info would be appreciated. All we have right now is hope that the truth will make an impact. Denying people the right to speak frankly about the circumstances they have been thrust into is about as anti-American as it gets. Hardly shocking during an administration which seems terrified of the idea of free speech.
Here’s toast tot he ghost of McCarthy…..
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This has to be a pair of the most disgusting news reports I’ve ever read. I hope they are wrong, I hope that perhaps its just over-zealous private security guys who mis-understood a most-likely expressed desire by FEMA that residents not be interviewed…but the sickened feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me that its not that at all and those guys are really acting on FEMA orders directly. Between the denial of civil liberties and the mismanagement of taxpayer dollars (WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL IN TENTS WHEN THERE ARE EMPTY TRAILERS?!?!?!) its enough to make a woman sick.
This was posted to the New Orleans LJ community on July 22nd and there is a good bit of discussion there: http://community.livejournal.com/neworleans/2295495.html
Read the comments – they are interesting and informative.
Sounds like facism is taking hold. Wath out they may come for you next.