Statement: Haiti’s Peasants Stand in Solidarity w US protesters
The Global Women’s Strike works with the Haiti Action Committee (HAC) in support of the grassroots movement for democracy in Haiti. HAC is distributing the important message below from Haitian peasant organizations who say: ‘We Stand In Solidarity to Demand an End to Police Terror’. |
Press Release from Peasant Organizations in Haiti, Port-au-Prince May 31, 2020 |
Haiti Action Committee is honored to distribute this message of solidarity from peasant organizations in Haiti. It was translated from the original Kreyol version, illustrated below. As the signers so clearly state, “Hand in hand, let’s struggle together to eradicate racism and injustice.” From Haiti to the U.S. – One Struggle, One Fight. We Stand In Solidarity To Demand An End To Police Terror We strongly denounce the brutal acts of the police against people in the United States who are demonstrating to demand justice for George Floyd, who died tragically at the hands of racist police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. We know also that there are many other Black people who are victims at the hands of racist police in the United States. This includes: 1. Breonna Taylor, who the police in Kentucky killed inside her home. 2. Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia who was killed by two racist whites connected with the police. 3. And the list goes on. The police in Haiti act with the same brutality against the Haitian people, especially when we demand our rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Here are the names of some of the people who the police in Haiti assassinated in the past several days: 1. May 30, 2020 — Walking Blanc and another young man were shot by the police at about 8:00 p.m. in Kazo (Port-au-Prince) because they were in the street during curfew. 2. May 22, 2020 — Louis, an employee of the Ministry for Social Affairs, shot by the police while on his way to buy milk for his child. 3. May 16, 2020 — James, a young man on St. Martin St., shot by a police armored vehicle as he was helping his brother, who had difficulty walking, cross the street. 4. May 10, 2020 — Two young men killed as a police armored vehicle opened fire on a group of young men on Dechant St. in the area of Pont-Rouge. 5. We cannot forget Roberto Badio Thelusma, 14 years old. The police shot him in February 2019 as he was helping his mother with her soft drinks business. 6. And the list goes on. These crimes were committed just in Port-au-Prince alone. It is the police from the US and Canada that train the police of Haiti. People in the U.S. have always acted in solidarity with the people of Haiti as we struggle to become a country with full respect for human rights. Today, we follow the history of our ancestors as we stand in solidarity with the people of the U.S., particularly the Black community that is subjected to racist attacks and oppression. Hand in hand, let us struggle together to eradicate racism and injustice. Signers below are Representatives of Peasant Organizations: Potoprens: Jeanette Denis, Oswald Jean SenMak: Frantz Malherbe, Dorain Pierre Jeremie: Marie Carmelle Destin, Thony François Lenbe: Paul Godin, Ignace Celestin Terye Wouj: Marie Rene Janvier, Paul Desmarais Jan Rabel: Octavius Pierre, Ronald Jacques Lazil: Kesnel Solitaire, Justin Sanon Aken: Sonel Piercin, Marc Evalis Bene: Jean Marc Leger, Sony Sanon Belade: Pierre Noel |