New Orleans women take case for hurricane assistance to Washington

Published: 2006-02-02

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- The idea of New Orleanians going to Capitol Hill to force a confrontation with members of Congress on issues related to Hurricane Katrina first occurred to Anne Milling in November, but it wasn't until January that it started coming together. "I threw it out at the table at Thanksgiving dinner, where our table was filled with people who had lost their houses," said Milling. "Everyone agreed it seemed like a good idea." On Jan. 10 Milling, a longtime advocate for Catholic causes, called together a cadre of her fellow community activists to put the proposal into action. On Jan. 30, just 20 days later, 140 women, representing every socioeconomic and ethnic group in New Orleans, opened their "blue tarp" umbrellas and prepared to present their case in Washington. Women of the Storm, as the group came to be known, held a rally and then went to congressional office buildings in groups of two to invite the 70 senators and 465 House members who haven't been to the Gulf Coast region to come and take an all-expense-paid, 36-hour tour.

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