Needless Refugees

In New Orleans soldiers and police are forcefully removing people from their homes…even in areas where the homes and streets are undamaged from the hurricane. Troops are also ordered to confiscate all weapons…even those legally registered (I’m betting those were the first to be taken) so that only troops and police are armed.

Here is the Washington Post’s account.

Outside Kajun’s Pub, between the relatively dry French Quarter and the heavily flooded Ninth Ward, bar owner JoAnn Guidos loaded up her 1991 Ford Econoline van with clothing, liquor and other necessities Thursday morning. After holding out for 10 days, Guidos and her friends were finally leaving New Orleans and heading to high ground.

The beer was still cold, thanks to a working generator, and hopes for customers were strong as the flood-ravaged city fills with thirsty soldiers and emergency workers.

But on Wednesday night, Guidos said, armed federal agents identifying themselves as U.S. marshals confiscated her weapons and ordered her and six friends to leave by noon Thursday.

“When you get 15 M-16s pointed at you and they line you up against the wall, it’s kind of scary,” said Guidos, 55.

With floodwaters continuing to recede and cleanup efforts beginning in earnest, police and the military set out on an aggressive door-to-door campaign here Thursday, urging remaining residents to leave or be removed by force.

What is the point of removing people from their homes and businesses when they aren’t in the way?

Can you imagine being evicted from your home at gunpoint and told to leave town…even though your home was still intact and you didn’t have any other place to go? Even people with water and food storage who have no need of the public utilities are being forced from their homes and businesses to become refugees. Who does this benefit? What public good does this serve? I think its pretty creepy.

9/13/2005 Update:

Here’s some video footage Radley Balko posted at his site of someone being forcefully removed from her home.

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