Protect the World’s First Black Republic: Haiti
Photo courtesy of Bailey Torres
written by Tiara Jade
The island of Haiti has been in the news on multiple occasions, most recently after thousands of Haitian migrants appeared at the US-Mexico border seeking refuge.
Haiti, the world’s first independent Black republic, is home to roughly 11 million people. Throughout 2021 the island has faced upheaval with political protests, a rise in gang violence, along with increasing Covid-19 cases and no vaccine doses. On Aug. 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti causing widespread destruction.
[Additional Read: Update on the Aftermath of St. Vincent’s La Soufriere Eruption]
Additionally, rising protests and violence were due to political instability and disapproval of former president Jovenel Moïse. Moïse was a political unknown when he first ran in the 2015 presidential election. He built his campaign around being an outsider focused on strengthening Haiti’s institutions, helping small farmers and fighting corruption. Moïse won, but after allegations of fraud, the results were thrown out. In 2016, he ran again and won. Rivals challenged the results of the election, and Moïse didn’t take office until February 2017.
On July 7, 2021, President Moïse was assassinated in his private home in the upmarket Petionville neighbourhood. According to BBC News, Moïse’s body was found with 12 bullet wounds. His wife was also shot, but survived the attack. Haitian authorities claimed that Moïse was murdered by foreign mercenaries, a group of Colombian and Haitian American men who were part of a conspiracy led by a doctor named Christian Emmanuel Sanon. Friends of Moïse reported that in the days before his death, he talked about enemies being out to get him. In early 2021, he often spoke if his country as being a land of coups, conspiracy and murder. Currently, Claude Joseph is acting as the island’s prime minister.
According to CBC News, as of mid-September, 14,000 Haitian migrants were camped at the US-Mexico border. Following the political unrest, August’s earthquake and years of struggles within the country, many Haitians have been left with nothing.
The migrants have formed a massive camp underneath an overhead bridge between Coahuila, Mexico and Del Rio as they await assistance. CNN Politics reported The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has promised the U.S. will clear out the camp in the coming days, having moved a few thousand migrants into custody until they can be processed. In addition, approximately 1,400 migrants have been flown back to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. This comes as the result of the Biden administration utilizing a Trump-era Covid policy.
As the events unfolded, horrific photos of the migrants being herded like cattle by border control officers sparked outrage online, prompting many to look for ways to provide assistance. Many organizations are actively providing help to families and looking for community support to achieve their goals. To learn more about how you can help, here are three reputable organizations actively working in the field.
1.Hope for Haiti
Hope for Haiti was founded over 30 years ago by humanitarian and philanthropist JoAnne M. Kuehner. After her first visit to Haiti, JoAnne was captivated by the island and determined to make a difference. The organization focuses on creating access to education, healthcare, clean water, building the economy and infrastructure. Hope for Haiti works with community partners to provide resources and target the areas of the island that need access to essential resources. In a recent social media post, the organization announced that they are currently accessing the situation at the border and looking into the best way to provide support. They informed followers to keep an eye out for updates on their page.
2.Haitian Bridge Alliance Inc.
Haitian Bridge Alliance Inc. is a non-profit organization that works to develop a self-sufficient community of Haitian immigrants in California and beyond. They provide services such as passport and identification facilitation, computer and wifi access, immigration attorney assistance, and resume and work preparation. They have been vocal about providing support to Haitian migrants and have spoken on new networks such as MSNBC, organized fundraising efforts and participated in an open letter to President Biden on his response to the situation. All donations to Haitian Bridge have been used to provide families with diapers, formula, clothes, food and shelter. They provided regular updates on their website and social media, letting followers know how to help and who they can reach out to in their own cities.
3. Houston Haitians United
Houston Haitians United was created in 2015 when three gentlemen by the names of Sledge Leonidas, Jean Michel Celestin and James Pierre came together to organize and establish representation for the rapidly growing Haitian community in Houston, Texas.
Their goal was to promote and uplift Haitians and their culture by creating and providing resources for the well-being and advancement of Haitians everywhere. This included cultural events and spaces for Haitian businesses and organizations to network. In the past week, Houston Haitians United posted an update on their response to the migrant crisis. They have currently sent out 182 emails, 31 media requests, helped over 1,800 Haitian migrants and purchased 82 flights. They also have over 900 active volunteers.
Many are calling for the Biden administration to rethink their approach towards the situation and utilize their power to help the migrants. The calls for action include: stopping all deportation flights back to Haiti, given the country is in crisis, ending the use of immigration policies such as Title 42 and Remain in Mexico, that were created by the Trump administration, creating a new and humane immigration system that provides people with community support and having accessible legal counsel and case management programs.
It is hoped that the community letters will reach the White House and reinforce these messages to President Biden. While Haiti’s future remains unknown, many continue to protest, write their representatives and donate to reputable organizations. To learn more about each organization click on link located in the description.
