Sometimes it's rough

Tuesday afternoon I got an e-mail from my editor at Free Speech Radio News asking if I could cover the Gulf Region Human Rights Consultation that was taking place here in New Orleans. That evening, a reception and media briefing was scheduled, and the following day the consultation was to be held at Xavier University.

I was psyched to have some paying work to do and to connect with people working for social justice in the region. Unfortunately, after the introductory remarks on Tuesday, I was asked to leave. I was told that it was because I was a journalist and some people were not comfortable with being observed. Another journalist was there, a guy who is well-known in New Orleans and is a prominent lefty writer. He wasn't asked to leave, and when I asked whether he would be, I was told that he was "part of the group."

I left. Furious.

The next morning, as soon as I arrived at Xavier University, I found the woman who had asked me to leave, and I told her how upset I was. I stated that, as a newcomer to New Orleans, I could understand that some people may not feel comfortable with my presence. However, I pointed out, the event had been billed as a reception, with no time limit given for media presence. Additionally, I had been singled out as a member of the media, which seemed inconsistent to me.

Another one of the organizers was standing by as I had this conversation. She was clearly surprised that this had happened, and she said that she had written the press release herself. The woman who had asked me to leave walked away at a certain point, but her co-organizer said that I had done the right thing by raising the issue.

Just now I sent an e-mail to the organizers of the conference asking that they have a discussion of their media policy because the press can't support the work for the enforcement of human rights if we aren't given access.

This may not make me any new friends here in New Orleans, but I guess I'll live.

I have to say that the two other event organizers to whom I spoke yesterday morning also were surprised by what had happened. In the afernoon, I talked with a woman from Gulf Coast Women for Change, Sharon. She had been at the event on Tuesday and, before I left, I had told her that I wanted to talk to her the following day. We had a long talk, and she was very supportive. So, overall, I feel more at peace.

That's the news from down here.