Opinion: Denver protester focuses on Hurricane Katrina

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While other protesters carried signs demonstrating against U.S. involvement in Iraq or conditions at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Derrick Evans arrived from Gulfport, Miss., hauling an old FEMA trailer bearing messages with a different sort of theme.

One, in blue tape on the side of the trailer, read: “Where did $129 billion for Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery go?”

Another said, “Thank you, hurricane volunteers – you alone made the difference. When will our elected federal, state or local officials join them?”

On the eve of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Evans said he brought his so-called “KatrinaRitaville Express” to Denver – and then onto St. Paul next week – because neither presidential candidate has paid any attention to the continued struggles of Gulf coast communities.

“Neither candidate has shown they even comprehend (the situation),” said Evans, 41.

While some areas, particularly New Orleans, have gotten most of the attention and funding for recovery, communities like his, Evans said, “would have no recovery if not for volunteers.”

He faulted the federal government for failing to put together a comprehensive recovery effort. “We have a long way to go,” he said.

--DeeDee Correll

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