Congresswoman Waters Meets with Black Oystermen in Plaquemines Parish

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) visited Plaquemines Parish last week to speak with some of the black oystermen who operate out of Pointe a la Hache, LA. Along with the president of the local black oystermen, Mr. Byron Encalade, Congresswoman Waters held a listening session with some oystermen who have been economically harmed by the oil spill. Congresswoman Waters assured them that they had her ear, encouraged them to seek economic justice and equality through the claims process, and promised that she would take their stories back to Washington and fight for their rights.

"There are no other employment opportunities for the fishermen of Pointe a la Hache, and their children and families will not have a good shot at economic survival unless they are treated fairly by BP and their contractors, who are responsible for the destruction of their environment and their livelihood," said Congresswoman Waters. "Some of the stories I have heard today – like local fishermen with able boats being passed over for cleanup work by BP, and people whose economic way of life has been completely altered not of their own doing – are heartbreaking. I look forward to following up with Kenneth Feinberg, who is overseeing the claims process, and some of my colleagues working on these issues so that economic justice is swift and fair for the hard-working people of the Gulf Coast."

Congresswoman Waters continued, "I have long been an advocate for the people of the Gulf Coast, on issues ranging from affordability and availability of housing to clean up after Hurricane Katrina to the ongoing fallout for the fishermen, oystermen, small business owners and residents from the recently-capped oil spill. I look forward to continuing my advocacy and my visits to the Gulf region."

###