Mayor Cantrell delivered a news conference this morning where she expressed outrage about an event that took place on Decatur Street this past Saturday. She said the religious concert hosted by Christian activist Sean Feucht was not authorized by the city, and that the city had told Feucht and company not to come to New Orleans, as their event would not be permitted.
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Cantrell seemed irritated that all this was done under the pretense of religion, and described that as “not right.” She quoted Romans 13:1-2, saying everyone is subject to government authorities, and that the revival concert was reckless and irresponsible. She also said residents were aligned with her message, especially those in the local entertainment industry who have not been able to work in the French Quarter now for some time. Louisiana-born Christian singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle was also singled out by the Mayor for participating in the event.
Cantrell said the difference between this concert and the social justice protests that happened earlier in the summer was all about respect, suggesting that the street rallies in Duncan Plaza, Jackson Square and other places in response to the George Floyd killing were respectful to the city, while Feucht’s concert was not.
That’s got to be one of the weakest explanations I have ever heard in my entire life.
Nobody ever required the social justice protests to have a permit in the first place. And how can you call it respectful when protesters get into conflicts with police, wander the city streets at will, climb up on interstate ramps and block traffic over the Crescent City Connection? That’s an expression of respect?
Then, we actually turn on our own police department, completely and totally outnumbered, and hamstrung by the City Council as to what less-than-lethal crowd control measures they are allowed to use, and we call that respect?
Obviously, this is social justice warriors versus everybody else. We are winking at one group, and not winking at the other. If you’re not going to be consistent in your approach, you’ll continue to have those that will do things ‘under the pretense,’ because truth be told, Mayor, the pretense started with you, and there’s no way that you can escape history as we know it, because these questions about permitting were asked of you, the council and others, as to why the social justice marchers didn’t need a permit, while Mardi Gras krewes and everyone else does.
And how do we know that Lauren Daigle even knew that the concert wasn’t permitted? What if she was under the assumption that it was? If that’s the case - somebody is owed an apology.