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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Scuffles over New Orleans housing | Scuffles over New Orleans housing |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police in the US city of New Orleans have used pepper spray and stun guns on protesters seeking to halt the demolition of public housing. | Police in the US city of New Orleans have used pepper spray and stun guns on protesters seeking to halt the demolition of public housing. |
| The protesters were trying to force their way into a city council meeting where members were expected to approve demolishing 4,500 houses. | The protesters were trying to force their way into a city council meeting where members were expected to approve demolishing 4,500 houses. |
| The units were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the US housing authority wants to replace them. | The units were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the US housing authority wants to replace them. |
| The protesters say the demolitions will drive poor blacks from the city. | The protesters say the demolitions will drive poor blacks from the city. |
| The city council's approval is required so the US Department of Housing and Urban Development can proceed with its plan to demolish the buildings and replace them with new mixed-income housing. | The city council's approval is required so the US Department of Housing and Urban Development can proceed with its plan to demolish the buildings and replace them with new mixed-income housing. |
| Temporary housing | Temporary housing |
| Tensions had already been high before the meeting and scuffles broke out in the council chambers as the session opened. | Tensions had already been high before the meeting and scuffles broke out in the council chambers as the session opened. |
| In pictures: city hall clashes | |
| Critics of the plan say it will further restrict the stock of cheap housing at a time when the city is still struggling to rebuild from Katrina. They also say the brick buildings are still sound and only need to be renovated. | Critics of the plan say it will further restrict the stock of cheap housing at a time when the city is still struggling to rebuild from Katrina. They also say the brick buildings are still sound and only need to be renovated. |
| "It is beyond callous, and can only be seen as malicious discrimination," said Kali Akuno of the Coalition to Stop the Demolition. | "It is beyond callous, and can only be seen as malicious discrimination," said Kali Akuno of the Coalition to Stop the Demolition. |
| "It is an unabashed attempt to eliminate the black population of New Orleans." | "It is an unabashed attempt to eliminate the black population of New Orleans." |
| Supporters of the demolition plan say it will allow developers to take advantage of tax breaks and build new neighbourhoods with an allotment of low-income housing. | Supporters of the demolition plan say it will allow developers to take advantage of tax breaks and build new neighbourhoods with an allotment of low-income housing. |
| Thousands of families from the southern states hit by Hurricane Katrina are still living in government-funded temporary housing, including caravan parks. | Thousands of families from the southern states hit by Hurricane Katrina are still living in government-funded temporary housing, including caravan parks. |