Thousands of refugees of Hurricane Katrina were transported to the Astrodome in Houston this week. In an extreme act of looting, one group actually stole a bus to escape ravaged areas in Louisiana. About 100 people packed into the stolen bus. They were the first to enter the Houston Astrodome, but they weren’t exactly welcomed. The big yellow school bus wasn’t expected or approved to pass through the stadium’s gates. Randy Nathan, who was on the bus, said they were desperate to get out of town.
“If it werent for him right there,” he said, “we’d still be in New Orleans underwater. He got the bus for us.”
Eighteen-year-old Jabbor Gibson jumped aboard the bus as it sat abandoned on a street in New Orleans and took control. “I just took the bus and drove all the way here…seven hours straight,’ Gibson admitted. “I hadn’t ever drove a bus.” The teen packed it full of complete strangers and drove to Houston. He beat thousands of evacuees slated to arrive there.
“I t’s better than being in New Orleans,” said fellow passenger Albert McClaud, “we want to be somewhere where we’re safe.”
…Authorities eventually allowed the renegade passengers inside the dome. But the 18-year-old who ensured their safety could find himself in a world of trouble for stealing the school bus.
“I dont care if I get blamed for it ,” Gibson said, “as long as I saved my people.”
Sixty legally chartered buses were expected to arrive in Houston throughout the night. Thousands of people will be calling the Astrodome “home,” at least for now.
One woman’s thief is another woman’s savior. I’m going with “finding” and “heroism” on this round, Alex.
Via Mac, more at the News Blog.
In other news, Bush reports his umbrella is working “just fine.”
You’ve got that right.
The authorities are discussing jailing Gibson for grand theft auto. If they do, I’m happy to turn my blog into Bail Fund Central.
I certainly can’t fault that young man…he helped save 100 people!
An Air America host has made the point (and I’m sure she wasn’t the first to point this out!) that the people who fled Hurricane Andrew back in 1992 were called victims by the media, but at least some of those who are fleeing Katrina are being called refugees. And I hear the word refugees spoken over TV images of largely African-American disaster victims. It’s probably just my commie pinko liberal paranoia, but I can’t help wondering if there’s some subconscious reason for this…
The authorities are discussing jailing Gibson for grand theft auto.
Do we know that they actually are? I’m having a hard time thinking of a stupider move, from a P.R. standpoint.
If they prosecute that kid I will do everything in my power to raise a defense fund and bail money. That kid is a hero. Period.
I’m writing to that news channel asking why they chose the words “extreme act of looting.”
KRAZY KARAOKE AT LEFTY’S LOUNGE
KRAZY KARAOKE IS BACK AT LEFTY’S LOUNGE Plus we hope you brought a link for the grill on the deck overlooking the Bay of Confusion. A FRIEND pointed me to THIS. AND KRAZY KARAOKE? If you know A song,
Taking buses, saving lives, without permission
The first bus full of refugees from New Orleans to arrive at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston was not the result of FEMA work… but the work of an 18- or 20-year-old man (the stories are somewhat conflicting) named Jabbar Gibson. It was covered both in
That’s an interesting story.