On April 21 organizers Kojo Livingston and Darrel “Sess 4-5” Warren began the first leg of the People’s Hurricane and Relief Fund’s West Coast Tour here in San Diego. The Coffee House on 30th and Broadway was standing room only. A very diverse crowd came to get an update on what is happening on the Gulf Coast 18 months after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina hit.
Students came from San Diego State University, Point Loma High School, San Diego FIST (Fight Imperialism - Stand Together) as well as some teachers from some of the local schools. Tchaiko Kwayana from Point Loma High School spoke of some of the work students at that school are doing to get books, art supplies and computers to the schools in New Orleans. Some students from SDSU had gone to New Orleans during spring break to see it for themselves as well as to find out what they could do to help.
The program started with filmmaker Arthur Saenz showing his video “Down But Not Out.” This film set the tone for Sess and Livingston to talk about the struggles that the people in New Orleans are dealing with on a day-to-day basis.
The two organizers also met with activists in Los Angeles, Santa Cruz and San Francisco.
