Against the backdrop of a video display of the inhumane treatment of Gulf Coast residents during and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this session will begin with a spoken word piece that introduces the human rights abuses perpetrated by the US government in its efforts to privatize communities and public services in the Gulf region.

Following the spoken word, there will be a dramatic reading that exposes to audience members the lies told by the US government in little known reports about human rights and the Gulf Coast reconstruction. The US government has submitted these reports to United Nations' offiicals, who monitor the federal government's compliance with treaties that protect the human rights to life, non-discrimination, and racial equality. The dramatic reading will present the outrageous statements made by the US government, which ignore the human rights protections for Gulf Coast residents struggling to return, rebuild, and recover. People from the Gulf Coast, whose human rights continue to be violated in the so-called "recovery effort," will present their responses to each statement by the US government. These responses will highlight the intersectionalities of struggles for justice (e.g., the right of return, racial justice, workers' rights, immigrant and migrant rights, environmental justice, children's rights and quality public education, anti-violence, voting rights, reform of the incarceration system, community self-determination, and economic justice).

Following the dramatic reading and responses, there will be a facilitated dialogue with the audience that explores how social justice activists can hold the US government accountable for the prolonged displacement of African Americans, the ethnic cleansing of the Gulf region, and other human rights violations.

The language of this event will be conducted in English. We would like information from the USSF organizers on how we can provide interpretation equipment (headsets and transmitters). Hand-out materials will be provided in English and Spanish.