A Hearty New Orleans Welcome

They billed it as "Welcome Home New Orleans," a day of entertainment, free food and medical care and a chance to clean up Washington Square. But two New Orleans Police Department officers showed up demanding to see a permit for the event. They weren't satisfied when they were told organizers had oral permission from the New Orleans Department of Health, and they reportedly became belligerent when asked to identify themselves. In fact, they tossed a reporter who took pictures of the confrontation out of the park after he refused to erase the photos. The two officers quickly departed, however, after members of the Missouri National Guard showed up.