A scene from the Congressional Black Caucus annual conference, post-Katrina

the cbc's annual legislative conference was held at washington d.c.'s convention center last week...

As Jefferson [Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson] tries to introduce the next panelist, a man in a plaid shirt, Leroy Paige, stands in the middle of the floor. He raises a finger, politely says "excuse me." Then, "I am an evacuee," he says, "you know, from Katrina?"

Jefferson tries to move on.

"Let the man speak," someone says. Then another, and another until Jefferson relents.

Paige takes the podium. "I am here to tell you, people from New Orleans, we have had to face a hurricane, a flood, be put on airplanes and not know where we were going and when we arrived to have guns put to our faces.

"We are talked about, talked at but no one talks to us."

He is grateful for the help, he says, but goes on about not enough money, about tight restrictions in the D.C. Armory.

"We need some input," he says.

By the time he leaves the room less than 10 minutes later, a crowd follows him into the hallway.

"We are talked about, talked at but no one talks to us." phew... that's a hell of a quote and you know it's true... if nothing changes, nothing changes...

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