New Orleans City Business: City says encampment violated laws

Malcolm Suber appeals with New Orleans city official at destruction of Resurrection City.The city says it acted within its rights when it tore down an encampment built by demonstrators outside the St. Bernard housing complex.

On March 24, the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund, Common Ground Relief and C3/Hands Off Iberville set up "Resurrection Village" on city rights of way to peacefully protest the closure of public housing while residents are still displaced from Hurricane Katrina, said Kali Akuno, executive director of PHRF.

At about 10 a.m Monday, city workers made the demonstrators abandon the encampment, Akuno said.

"The city deconstructed and removed six wooden shed-like structures from the area in front of the St. Bernard Housing complex. These structures were in the public right of way between the sidewalk and the street," said city spokesman James Ross.

"City code and state law allow the city to remove structures on the public right of way. By doing so, we are protecting the public right of ways and restricting the erection of structures that are not properly permitted," Ross said.