Several Haitian organizations held a press conference on Friday, November 25th to denounce Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and his administration’s policies against Haitians living in the Dominican Republic.
The press conference, organized by Kenny Altidor, a Haitian-American artist and community activist who lives in Canarsie, took place at 1407 Flatbush Avenue, near the corner of Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard.
The countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola.
The Haitian diaspora is urging the Dominican Republic to cease deportations of Haitians. The country has deported an estimated 60,000 Haitians and people of Haitian ancestry between August 1st and October 31st.
Speakers at the event said that racism is never justified. Recently, videos have flooded out of the Dominican Republic showing security forces corralling black people outside their homes and loading them into cages on migrant control trucks to be carted off and, presumably, placed in detention centers or deported.
The event was held in conjunction with AK Art Center, National Haitian Clergy Network,
L’Asch, Radio Africa 1804, Tele Image, Caribbean Image, Kafou Evanjelik, Haitian Powerhouse, Haiti Premiere Classe, AK Art For the Love of Haiti, Gardy Brazela, Pastor Daniel Host and Councilwoman Rita Joseph.
Photos by Michael Wright
