Democracy Now! | Headlines for September 25, 2007

Democracy Now! | Headlines for September 25, 2007

National Lawyers Guild Urges Release of Jena Six
The National Lawyers Guild has called for the release of Mychal Bell and for all charges to dropped against the Jena Six. The lawyers group urged the Justice Department to immediately convene an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of the Jena Six

Plans to Demolish 4,500 Public Housing Units in New Orleans Approved
The Bush administration has given the Housing Authority of New Orleans the go ahead to demolish the city's four largest public housing complexes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the demolition of the 4,500 housing units on Friday. Democratic Seantor Mary Landrieu criticized the ruling but other lawmakers have endorsed such moves. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Republican Congressman Richard Baker said: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it but God did."

Mississippi Moves to Divert Katrina Housing Aid to Spruce up Port
Meanwhile in Mississippi, Oxfam America, the Mississippi NAACP and the Mississippi Justice Center are protesting a plan to divert post-Katrina housing aid to improve the state port at Gulfport. The Mississippi Development Authority wants to take $600 million in federal funds from a housing plan for low-income homeowners hit by Hurricane Katrina and move it to spruce up the port.