Jackson leads protest in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, April 29 (UPI) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson joined about 750 people for a protest against the lack of progress in rebuilding the poorest parts of New Orleans.

"I see the Saints are back, the basketball team is back, the white top tablecloths are back and Mardi Gras is back," Jackson said Saturday. "But 250,000 people are not."

Jackson joined demonstrators in the Lower 9th Ward to question why hurricane recovery money has not trickled down to many homeowners struggling to rebuild. Much of the criticism was directed at administrators of Louisiana's Road Home rebuilding program, the Times-Picayune reported Sunday.

The demonstrators marched to the intersection of Jourdan Avenue and North Galvez Street, where a levee breach destroyed surrounding neighborhoods in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The marchers included New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League.