NEW ORLEANS – ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Alanah Odoms shares the following statement in response to multiple state agencies’ forced removal of roughly 75 unhoused residents, despite pushback from the City of New Orleans officials and advocates.
“We stand with UNITY of Greater New Orleans and city officials in strongly condemning the inhumane forced expulsion of approximately 75 unhoused residents by Governor Jeff Landry’s administration. This was a multi-agency effort led by the Louisiana State Police and the Department of Transportation and Development. This heartless action, carried out without any plan to connect residents to housing or treatment solutions, has not only disrupted lives but also complicated the existing process of housing these residents.
Among the displaced was a resident who was working at a fast-food restaurant when their belongings were discarded. This is a stark reminder that the narrative suggesting unhoused people “don’t want to work” is a harmful myth. Governor Landry has now undermined the efforts of someone striving to regain stability—a tragic consequence of an ill-conceived decision.
This entire situation could have been avoided with the simplest of actions: coordination, communication, and compassion. Instead, it has caused unnecessary harm to our most vulnerable neighbors, further isolating them from the help they desperately need. We call on Governor Landry to work with local officials and experts in the future to ensure that those in need are treated with dignity and given real opportunities to rebuild their lives.
We don’t need the government to get in the business of discarding compassionate processes towards housing residents for the purpose of beautification for music or sporting events.”
