by Jeff Thomas
In 2017, illegally acting, outside agitators cannot be allowed to subvert the will of the people of New Orleans. Circa 1963 when African Americans were attempting to integrate Woolworth’s on Canal St, NOPD officers grabbed, clubbed, wrestled and forcibly threw out men and women who were exercising their constitutional rights. At the time the police claimed the African Americans were causing a disturbance and had to be removed. Now in 2017 with the roles reversed, the police and city officials cower in fear of what some irate Lost Cause disciples might do.
Around 50 years ago, Bull Conner used water hoses and vicious dogs to keep peaceful protesters from walking the streets of Alabama. Today in New Orleans, the city administration feels it must keep secret the time and location of the actual next monument removal.
Some things are the same as they were 50 years ago. White privilege and white supremacy are still major factors impacting New Orleans today. The fear of white terrorism is still a real phenomenon. Even back then the population breakdown was about the same – 65% African Americans and 35% Whites. The difference today is African Americans have rights and privileges as full U.S. citizens. Also, many police officers, firemen and women, the sheriff, and numerous judges are African Americans. But even with this political might, full citizenship can only come with the local government removing the monuments. 
Even if you argue the measure is purely symbolic and of no practical consequence, the real consequence is that the city must honor the will of the majority of the people. City government must immediately remove these statues and use whatever force is necessary to keep law breaking contrarians who revel in ignorance and threats at bay.
Was the city telegraphing the use of water hoses by using firemen to dismantle the liberty monument? Additionally since the police claim to be suffering from a manpower shortage, we certainly have enough police dogs to help patrol the area of monument removal. If any would be protester breaks any city law, then he or she should be immediately pulled away and arrested. Short an officer, sic a dog on em. Let him explain to one of the African American judges why the police arrested him after the dog bit him a few times. Nick Felton, head of the firefighters union said his men and women should only be expected to use firehoses and not 
tear down any monuments. I say get the large hoses and open them full blast.
While you might think using 60’s tactics is not appropriate today, I am fine with modern tactics. Recently in Baton Rouge, police dressed in riot gear, parked a few tanks nearby, had dogs barking and arrested anyone who stepped in the road either intentionally or not. We could do the same here. And take down those monuments in broad daylight. Full citizenship in 2017 requires the complete use of all political and government rights.
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Publisher — Black Source Media
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
We don’t need to resort to these tactics. But the city should not be intimidated by white supremists
Why should we let traitors survivors intimidate us! Don’t we have a police department to handle thugs like this?
Taking down these monuments does nothing.
Take em down!
BLAST THEM WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE WATER!!!!!!!!
You Ni&%%$s need to find something better to do?
I am Black and talking to them confederate N’s
Don’t call me a N! Yall are the N’s!!!!!!
Sticks and stones!!! We need to love one another!!
Whatever all that noise is a distraction. Take them down!!! NOWWWWWWWWWWW
Stop using this stock photo from the 60’s.
Rev. Alexander is no longer alive and he has a statue in front of the new medical center in recognition of his civil rights work.
you are a bigot to suggest those tactics and point out that a white person would not have equal right in front of a “black” judge in New Orleans…sounds like promoting black supremacy, not equality for all.
First and last, this was not the will of the majority. We asked for a vote, because 70% in three different polls were against this. This is solely the will of Mitch Landrieu who is a dynasty and is known to be unrelenting to people who cross him
amen