Could Houma become the next Jena?

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference threatened to make Houma “the next Jena” if Terrebonne Parish Housing Authority Executive Director Wayne Thibodeaux is not removed from office and other demands are not met concerning hurricane recovery efforts in the Senator Circle housing complex.

“We came here to offer relief to the people of this community, only to be confronted by an arrogant spirit that said to the national SCLC, ‘Go away! We don’t want your help,'” claimed the Rev. Byron Clay, SCLC national vice president, about Thibodeaux not meeting with him or other SCLC leaders.

Clay offered a list of 10 demands to be met by parish officials. Besides Thibodeaux’s removal, the list includes that no rent or utilities should be paid until all repairs are made, no residents be evicted during the hurricane cleanup and temporary housing be provided for the residents.

Some of the over 100 residents in attendance began chanting “Out Thibodeaux!”

Thibodeaux, who arrived at the Senator Circle rally but kept his distance from speakers addressing the crowd, said he was perplexed by accusations of intimidation and neglecting the residents’ needs.

“I don’t know what the issues are,” he said. “Nobody served me with a notice that these are what the issues are and this is what you want me to deal with. I haven’t had the opportunity to have a face-to-face with anyone. I’m in charge. I understand that I’m failing in some areas, but nobody has cited to me the areas that I’m failing at.”

The housing authority has provided bleach and other supplies for the residents to clean their apartments after last month’s flooding. It has also exempted rent payment for the month of September.

But many residents said their units still reek of sewage, mold infestation and have no power.

Thibodaux has been to Senator Circle to hear residents’ complaints, but no action has been taken on any of them.

“I do believe he needs to go because nothing he did has been right,” said Johnathan Brooks, a four-year resident of Senator Circle. “We’re still living in mold-infested units. It hurts.”

Brooks’ apartment is in the rear of Senator Circle, closest to Bayou Little Caillou, which was overtopped in the early morning hours of September 13. His unit was not only inundated with floodwater, but with worms, snakes and feces he said.

“Let him (Thibodeaux) spend one night in one of these units with his family and see how it feels,” he said. “Let (Gov.) Bobby Jindal or FEMA come here one night and see if their families like it.”

Debbie Watkins, who has lived in the Circle for five years, is living in a motel until her mold-infested apartment is cleaned.

“I’m not living in my apartment, but they still want me to pay rent,” she said. “Then, I have an electric bill and my electricity off. How are you going to read an electric meter when the electricity is off?”

Clay told the crowd that the SCLC would be back every week to protest living conditions in Senator Circle. On Friday at 3 p.m., civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton is scheduled to join SCLC in the circle.

Clay also said Dallas-based radio personality Tom Joyner will take up their cause on his nationally-syndicated program. “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” has between 8 and 10 million weekly listeners and is the top-rated program among African-American listeners.

Television star Marla Gibbs of “The Jeffersons” and “227” fame, and actors Tico Wells and Clyde R. Jones also spoke at the rally. They commended the residents for taking the initiative in their cleanup efforts.

While the crowd gawked at the famous faces among them, SCLC leadership encouraged residents to stand until demands were met.

“Ask yourself the question, would FEMA allow their families to live in your situation?” asked Rev. Dr. Vincent Fusilier, SCLC Terrebonne Parish chapter president. “Would they leave the comfort of their home to trade places with you all?”

He added, “SCLC is here; they’re going to stay here. Anybody gets in the way, we going to do what we have to do. A lot of people took this for a joke. But they must know that we’re coming through.”

“Nobody’s going to help us, keep us, save us, for us but us,” Clay said. “You got four types of people – those who want things to happen, those who wait for things to happen, those who watch things happen and those who make it happen. The SCLC makes things happen.”

Despite the small numbers at the rally, Clay assured the crowd their plight could become a national cause just as the “Jena Six” case did last year.

“If Houma doesn’t get its stuff in order, I think we are going to have to bring 70,000 people here,” said Marcus Jones, father of “Jena Six” figure Mychal Bell. “We want to see you living like people. Not normal black people, normal people.”

Many in the crowd threatened to take their complaints nationally if their demands are not met.

“We’re fired up and we’re tired,” Brooks said.

Actress Marla Gibbs, SCLC national vice president Rev. Dr. Byron Clay and actor Tico Wells address Senator Circle residents at last Thursday’s rally. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF