The Chicago Flame (student publication at the University of Chicago), 9/4/06
Excerpts from the article:
On Tuesday, World Can’t Wait held a New Orleans-style jazz funeral
march at the Chicago FEMA headquarters. The funeral was in
commemoration of the Katrina victims who died.
“It’s important
not only to honor them by ceremonies but to ensure that such events
don’t reoccur, which is the best way to remember the victims,” said
Alex Raskin, a third year neuroscience major.
World Can’t Wait
is an organization that seeks to take accountability to stop the
catastrophic course led by the Bush administration.
Many
volunteers and members of World Can’t Wait stood out in the rain on
Tuesday. Black umbrellas filled the streets surrounding the FEMA
headquarters.
While World Can’t Wait marched around the FEMA
headquarters, there were numerous commemorations held across the
country. In New Orleans residents also held their own jazz funeral
march, an old tradition. They also gathered outside City Hall while
bells were rang to honor the victims.
“Our
whole goal by holding a New Orleans-style jazz funeral is to remember
Katrina victims and to condemn the Bush regime,” said Abbie Arubus, a
student organizer of World Can’t Wait said.
The organization
criticizes the Bush administration stating that when Katrina struck the
Gulf Coast last year, Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice shopped for
shoes in New York and President George Bush stayed on vacation while
thousands died.
“I believe that President Bush criminally
neglected the people of the Gulf Coast in response to Katrina. He
didn’t even end his vacation until three days later,” said Tracey
McClellan stated, a volunteer of World Can’t Wait.