re: New Orleans police intimidated LaToya Cantrell foe in Jay Banks feud, monitor alleges

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Banks, a former Zulu king, now serves as Cantrell's urban policy specialist and draws an $85,000 annual salary. Batiste is a flag boy in the Yellow Pocahontas of Mardi Gras Indians and a perennial candidate for public office. He's now leading a campaign to recall Cantrell from office.

On Feb. 4, 2021, police issued Banks and Batiste misdemeanor summonses after a lawn fight outside Batiste's Treme home over then-Louisiana state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, whom Batiste had criticized at a campaign forum. Peterson and Banks were both members of the BOLD political organization, and she had paid him $23,000 from her campaign account for "legislative assistance."

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The police monitor's report quotes Banks saying, "Belden Batiste is going to come up missing... We can kill you and no one would know."

Bernard “Bunny” Newell, Banks' armed driver, said Batiste, too, issued threats, according to the report: “I got n***** that will die for me. Can you say that?" Batiste allegedly said. Avis Brock, one of Banks' staffers, alleged Batiste said he would "f*** everybody up."

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