Statement from the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations
Sisters, brothers, and allies of the Black community, the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations (BIBC) is calling on the African community to take up our responsibility to defend and uplift our sisters and brothers in Haiti in the wake of the earthquake of January 12, 2010.
The relief effort from others getting in touch with their humanity has some positives. However, African people everywhere and all who believe in justice are called on to join the in the National March and Rally to Defend Haiti, which is going to be held in Miami, Florida on February 20th 2010.
We believe the people of Haiti are part of the Black world and therefore African people everywhere have a special responsibility to step forward and address the tragic conditions of our people in Haiti. Furthermore, we understand that the dire poverty of Haiti is a result of French colonialism and U.S. military intervention in Haiti over the last 200 years and the earthquake of January 12, 2010 exacerbated the underdevelopment existent in Haiti since the beginning of its ongoing struggle for liberation.
Our people in Haiti are representative of the spirit of resistance and pride that has to be emulated and replicated by the entire African world. Our people need democracy and self determination, not more military interventions by the U.S., which has sent more than 10,000 troops to subdue our people. Our people in Haiti must have reparations not self serving charity from France and the U.S.
France and all of Europe have worked to make an example of Haiti by brutally starving us there as punishment for leading the first gloriously successful workers' revolution in the world and for creating a constitution that exposed the hypocrisy of the U.S., France and all of Europe by making Haiti a safe haven for anyone fleeing slavery and oppression.
Reparations and democracy for Haiti and the African world is the rallying call of resistance to all freedom loving people in this hour of great challenge. Sisters, brothers and allies, we can’t let Haiti become the disaster for African people that hurricane Katrina was, where hundreds of Africans perished due to U.S. government policy. Join the resistance.
Join the March and rally to defend Haiti and demand:
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Reparations must be paid to Haiti by France as repayment for the billions of dollars that Haiti was forced to pay France following the struggle for the abolition of slavery and the creation of the First African Republic in the Western Hemisphere on the 1st January 1804. We also demand that the United States makes reparations to Haiti for its brutal and unjust occupation of Haiti from 1915 – 1934 that culminated in the looting of the Haitian Treasury. This should include the cancellation of all debt. We can’t owe them if they owe us!
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The removal of all foreign military troops in Haiti including those from the United States, Canada, Europe and the combined imperial forces of the United Nations. No military occupation of Haiti.
- The repudiation of the Wet Foot/Dry Foot Policy that unfairly discriminates against Africans from Haiti and the establishment of an open door policy that allows Africans from Haiti to enter the United States, and any other country, unrestricted.
Saturday FEB 20th 10AM – Miami, FL
10:00 am Rally @ Athalie Range Park – 525 NW 62nd St Miami, FL
12:00 pm March to U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Center – 8801 NW 7th Avenue Miami, FL
More info: stpeteinpdum@yahoo.com (727) 821-6620
