New Orleans DSA vehemently opposes the Trump administration’s proposed military occupation of our city. We wholly reject the claim by the Federal and Louisiana state governments that they intend to deploy the military in order to address any semblance of “crime” here. A police state will neither prevent nor reduce crime. Only investment in our communities–a living wage, affordable housing, universal healthcare, and youth services–can accomplish that. Such actions will only restrict our ability to freely engage in public life.
We’ve seen ICE terrorize communities across Los Angeles and D.C. with the backing of the Marines, National Guard, and local police. We’ve witnessed them kidnap our neighbors and abduct countless others across the country to bring them to our state, the prison capital of the world. Right now, they are expanding Angola Prison in order to force these captives into modern-day slavery and funnel even more public dollars to private corporations.
Make no mistake: this proposal is yet another grotesque attempt by the white supremacist regime that defines our government to make a show of punishing the working class. This is about persecuting immigrants, Black people and other people of color, unhoused people, women and queer people, and all people fighting for their community, particularly in cities with Black and female leadership. They don’t care about public safety; they care about perpetuating violence and maintaining the ultra-rich oligarchy.
We call upon all of New Orleans to get organized and resist this fascist occupation. Protect your neighbors and make these troops and federal agents feel unwelcome in every part of our city. We stand with all organizations in this struggle for justice and humanity and are eager to work alongside you. We encourage students and workers to organize walkouts and pickets against these violations of our rights. We call upon all local officials and candidates for office to propose concrete actions that they will take to protect our people and drive out this occupation. Words aren’t enough: we must act.
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.
It is our duty to win.
We must love each other and support each other.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
– Assata Shakur
Solidarity,
New Orleans DSA