Boston event builds unity with Haitian struggle

A multinational crowd, mostly Haitian, filled the union hall of the Boston School Bus Drivers Feb. 5 for an "Evening in solidarity with the people of Haiti."

Robert St. Jean and Kim Ives

The New England Human Rights Organization for Haiti organized the event. Supporting organizations included Fanmi Lavalas, International Action Center, MLK Jr. Bolivarian Circle, Haiti Support Network, Fight Imperialism--Stand Together (FIST), and the Women's Fightback Network.

This important meeting was held at a crucial time: just days before the anniversary of the overthrow of the U.S.-backed Duvalier regime in 1986 and during Black History Month. As in Iraq, resistance against the U.S.-led "regime change" and the occupation of Haiti is growing. Mass demonstrations and resistance of all forms are happening on an almost daily basis.

Pat Chin

This meeting made a strong statement of international solidarity for those fighting back against imperialism and oppression.

Famous Haitian singer and Fanmi Lavalas activist Farrah Juste co-chaired the event with Kim Ives of the Haiti Sup port Network. There was a wide range of speakers.

Following a cultural performance by Bichet Lakay, Juste sang the Haitian national anthem. Frantz Mendez, vice-president of USWA Local 8751, welcomed everyone to the union hall.

Kim Ives stated that, "The struggle in Haiti is the same struggle that we see in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, the Philip pines and Palestine. We see it across the globe--people saying no to the attempts to crush the people's struggle."

Yves Alcindor, a well-known activist in the Haitian community and a leader of the New England Human Rights Organi zation for Haiti, set the tone with an historical overview of the Haitian independence struggle. He reminded the audience that, "In 1803 the people of Haiti defeated the French for their independence. At that time the French had the most powerful military in the world, similar to the U.S. today."

Alcindor said that in spite of intense repression today, the people are resisting. "Those that think they are bringing democracy to the world are the ones who are responsible for what is happening in Haiti, just like in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pales tine and elsewhere around the world."

Alcindor closed by stating: "They did not give Haiti its independence, we struggled for it and we will continue to struggle for it and Haiti will win its independence."

'Take to the streets!'

Chuck Turner, a member of the Boston City Council, made clear his solidarity with the people of Haiti. Turner stated, "We must stand together and make sure that we never again allow the U.S. government to use the resources that have been stolen from the workers of this country to oppress people around the world so that U.S. corporations can exploit their natural resources."

Turner concluded by issuing a call for on-going demonstrations to occupy Washington, D.C. He stressed, "Corrupt and tyrannical governments have never been removed through the ballot box, they have always been removed when the people take to the streets to demand it."

Pat Chin, a leading organizer for the International Action Center who has traveled to Haiti many times, made reference to Black History Month. She reminded everyone that, "Haiti was the first Black Republic and that inspired enslaved Africans in the United States and throughout the Americas to rebel."

Chin pointed out that, "In 1802 the French kidnapped and exiled Haitian leader Toussaint Louverture, but this led to the rise of Jean-Jacques Dessalines who took the struggle to a higher level and drove the French out. Today, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been exiled, but the fighting, uncompromising spirit of Dessalines is now moving the popular movement forward."

Chin emphasized that the struggle against the occupation of Haiti is intimately linked to that in Iraq and Palestine. And she pointed out that the anti-imperialist, anti-war movement must be linked to the fight for international workers' rights and against racism--especially in Haiti where workers are super-exploited by some of the same corporations that exploit the workers here.

Chin closed by calling for a united front against imperialism and for people's power, leading everyone in the chant: "On your feet, on your feet and get back into the streets!"

'Solidarity is fundamental!'

Ronald St. Jean, a journalist/author and a leader of the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of the Haitian People, traveled from Haiti to participate in this meeting. St. Jean was a leader in Gonaives during the 1985 uprising that led to the overthrow of the Duvalier dictatorship. He was also the head of International Relations for the General Confederation of Workers.

St. Jean said that the situation in Haiti since the intervention by U.S., Canadian and French troops and the kidnapping of Aristide is more serious than during the period following the first coup in September 1991.

St. Jean exposed the U.S./CIA role in the destabilization and "coup-napping" of Aristide, and exposed so-called aid or human rights organizations that act as nothing more than a branch of the U.S.-installed interim government.

He pointed out that the "interim government" of Haiti and its agents are executing the poorest people in Haiti daily. St. Jean explained the systematic approach this puppet government has taken--arresting many Fanmi Lavalas leaders, forcing hundreds into hiding or exile, and assassinating many. These are attempts to intimidate and disrupt the resistance to the occupation.

But this brutal policy has failed, he said. The people of Haiti have not been intimidated. In fact, their resistance to the occupation and the interim government continues to grow. St. Jean explained that solidarity between Haitian and U.S. workers is fundamental to defeating the occupation.

Steve Gillis, president of USWA Local 8751, Boston School Bus Drivers, spoke about his participation in a delegation to Haiti last fall. The group visited political prisoners, including singer So-Anne and Aristide's prime minister, Yvon Neptune.

Gillis drew the connection between the hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on the Pentagon wars and occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Haiti, and the lack of adequate funding for jobs, housing, healthcare and education in this country. Gillis also appealed to those in attendance to participate in the March 19 anti-war protest in New York City. In addition to commemorating the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq, the demonstration will demand an end to the occupation of Haiti.

Dario Zapata gave a message of solidarity from the Colombian people. It stated that the occupation of Haiti is condemned in all the mass demonstrations in Colom bia and that they consider Presi dent Aristide to be the legitimate leader of Haiti. Zapata pointed out that the forces responsible for the coup in Haiti are now at work in Colombia assassinating labor and community leaders.

Other solidarity messages were delivered by Stephanie Nichols of FIST; Oslyn Brumant, a shop steward of USWA Local 8751 and a representative of the Com mittee to Stop the Illegal Depor tations of the People from Montserrat; Liza Green, Women's Fightback Network; and John Harris, Chelsea Uniting Against the War.