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GUESTS: Katrina survivors, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (Houston)

Yesterday in Washington DC hundreds of survivors of Hurricane Katrina marched in Washington DC to protest the imminent evictions they face and to protect the voting rights of displaced survivors. In less than six weeks, general elections are scheduled in New Orleans that will decide the fate of the city. Yet more than 300,000 Katrina survivors may be deprived of their right to vote because they are scattered throughout the country. The march was also intended to promote House Bill 4197. HR 4197 is the Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005. This bill would provide housing vouchers, community development block grants, counseling and absentee ballots for survivors. Local businesses would receive incentives to return to the Gulf Coast and rebuild. HR 4197 has been stalled in Congress. According to the governors of the affected states, the Hurricane relief funding already enacted into law is not enough to fund recovery and rebuilding.

We bring you the sounds of the march and rally that took place yesterday in Washington DC. Among the speakers were Reverend Jesse Jackson, Congress man J0hn Conyers, and many others. We’ll hear the sounds of the march, along with the words of two Katrina survivors followed by Congress woman Sheila Jackson Lee from Houston, Texas. We apologize for the poor sound quality.

Special thanks to KPFK’s Mark Maxwell, and Pacifica radio’s Verna Avery Brown.