Musician Cole Williams helps launch homeless advocacy initiative

Musician and activist Cole Williams as well as veteran organizer Curtis Muhammad have organized daily demonstrations outside of Duncan Plaza to advocate for cleaner, safer spaces to hold homeless people as they live in transition on the street. The demonstrations take place outside of City Hall in New Orleans every morning beginning at 8 a.m. This is one of several initiatives started by Williams and Muhammad to address homelessness in the area, especially as the needs of people grew in the wave of the COVID-19 crisis. 

There are an estimated 1,200 homeless people in New Orleans. To offer support, Williams and Muhammad assisted New Orleans homeless people to collectivize and protest outside City Hall every morning until they are offered proper living spaces. A documentary on this “Homes for the Houseless” project is being filmed by Lily Keber and Jordan Flaherty. Footage features interviews with organizers Williams and Muhammad, as well as clips from the daily demonstrations.

Near the 4:00 mark in the Democracy Now clip below, homelessness in New Orleans was addressed. Read More