February 29th, 2024 marks 20 years since the US, France and Canada overthrew Haiti’s democratically elected government headed by President Jean-Bertand Aristide and the Fanmi Lavalas party. The coup targeting Haitian democracy was orchestrated by the Bush administration’s most notorious war criminals – Roger Noriega, Colin Powell and
Donald Rumsfeld – aided and abetted by the International Republican Institute [IRI]. Thousands were killed, raped, imprisoned or forced into exile. The Haitian people are still living with the 2004 coup’s horrific aftermath which has ushered in 20 years of foreign military occupation, dictatorship and terror, and a wave of neoliberal economic policies that have created a disaster in Haiti.
The US has imposed many corrupt and repressive puppet regimes on Haiti – the latest one headed by the unelected de facto Prime Minister, Ariel Henry. There are now no elected officials in Haiti, with the regime ruling by decree. These dictatorships have systematically dismantled Haiti’s democratic institutions. Neoliberal economic policies continue to deepen poverty and starvation. Death squad paramilitary formations, armed with weapons from the United States, terrorize the people. No wonder Haitians are fleeing Haiti by the tens of thousands, only to be forcibly returned because of racist US immigration policies.
Haiti’s democratic Lavalas governments made historic advances in health care, women’s rights, housing, economic justice, food sovereignty and education. These programs upheld the dignity and human rights of the Haitian people, denied for so long by western powers. The 2004 coup reversed these gains. But the achievements of the Aristide administrations are etched deep in the soul of Haiti and remain a foundation for Haiti’s future.
This is a critical moment for Haiti. As the US and UN move forward with plans for a new foreign invasion, this time fronted by Kenyan police, the Haitian popular movement, including Fanmi Lavalas, has demanded an end to foreign occupation once and for all. They are calling instead to replace the current dictatorship with a people’s transition government of “Sali Piblik” (public safety). In the face of repression and relentless terror that has driven hundreds of thousands from their homes, creating what Haitians have called a “hell on earth”, the Haitian people continue to defend their communities and to build new institutions, such as free clinics, cooperatives, and schools that serve the people.
The time for solidarity is now. We call on all freedom-loving people to defend the right of Haiti’s people to live with dignity, free from foreign domination.
US Out of Haiti, US Stop Funding Police Terror in Haiti, US Stop Backing Ariel Henry, US Stop the Influx of Weapons to Haiti. Haiti-Palestine, Same Struggle, Same Fight.
What You Can Do:
From Haiti to Palestine Teach In! Sunday, March 3rd 11-12:30 pm. Register at http://tinyurl.com/H2Pteachin
Haiti: A Call to Action! Sunday, April 6th, 1-3 PM East Side Arts Alliance 2277 International Blvd, Oakland, CA. Featured speakers include Dr. Maryse Narcisse and Pacha Vorbe, leaders of Fanmi Lavalas. This event will take place in person and on Youtube. Details TBA.
To learn about the democratic advances under President Aristide and Fanmi Lavalas progressive Haitian governments, check out “We Will Not Forget: the Achievements of Lavalas in Haiti.”
Invite Haiti Action Committee to do a workshop about Haiti with your organization, book club, or friends. Contact us at [email protected]
Hear Voices from Haiti via Haiti Action webinars on youtube. Follow Haiti news at www.haitisolidarity.net, https://www.facebook.com/HaitiActionCommittee and @HaitiAction1
