Rising with Haiti! Demonstrators Demand Justice, Dignity and Reparations
On Sunday, November 17, nearly 200 people from
the Haitian community in Montreal and their many
allies walked the streets of Montreal to denounce
the interference of foreign powers, including
Canada, in Haiti and their support for the corrupt
government of Jovenel Moïse. The action, organized
by Solidarité Québec-Haiti, was also aimed at
highlighting the heroic struggle of the Haitian
people for their right to be. The slogans Justice! Dignity!
Reparations! resonated throughout the
march.
Many interventions were made both at the
beginning and at the conclusion of the march,
which ended outside of the Haitian consulate. All
spoke with one voice to denounce foreign
interference in Haiti. The Haitian people are not
miserable and enslaved, they pointed out. They are
a proud and dignified people and are very capable
of leading their country. What prevents them from
doing that are corrupt governments imposed by
neo-liberal powers. Repeatedly, the slogans and
interventions denounced the so-called saviours
with their self-serving aid aimed at imposing the
enslavement of the Haitian people. "We are here to
defend the just cause of the Haitian people. There
are countries -- such as the United States, Canada
and France -- who say that we have chosen the
government in place. That's not true. We did not
choose it. The Haitian people have been in the
street for over two months. Over 300 people have
died. Schools are closed. And here Canada
continues to say that we elected them. They are
false friends and we do not need friends like
that," one of the speakers said.
 Another speaker
said, "We want to condemn the Canadian
government's dirty role in Haiti and its
hypocrisy. It financed the election in Haiti with
its millions of dollars, totally interfering in
the affairs of a country, while during the federal
election here, it repeatedly warned about the
dangers of foreign interference in the election.
In 2004, it was part of the coup, along with the
United States and France, against President
Aristide. Foreign policy does not belong to us and
does not represent us. It's up to us to decide
what kind of relationship we want with other
countries. We have a responsibility to respond to
Canadian foreign policy at a time when the
government is interfering against Bolivia,
Venezuela and others."
Tribute was paid to the youth, women and workers
who have died since the beginning of the uprisings
in Haiti, as well as to all those who died under
Duvalierism. "Today is the third edition of
Duvalierism. We have a responsibility. We cannot
remain silent because some people are taking
advantage of that silence. We must tell those who
represent us here in Canada that when you have
influence, show that you are Haitians," said
Frantz André, one of the organizers of Solidarité
Québec-Haiti. He greeted the Haitian youth of
today who are fighting and providing hope.
Several spoke to salute the battle of Vertières,
on November 18, 1803, whose 216th anniversary
was celebrated the day after the march. That
battle, led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines to free the
Haitian people from slavery and put an end to the
colonial power meant the rout and the defeat of
the Napoleonic army. It signified the elimination
of slavery and led to the proclamation of Haitian
independence and the formation of the first black
republic in the world, the Republic of Haiti on
January 1, 1804. Today, that battle continues.
Another speaker asked: "Are the Haitian people
entitled to health, education and dignity? Yes.
This is what we are demanding of those imperialist
powers who support the government in Haiti and
deny us all forms of humanity, who deny the right
to be of human beings, just like all the peoples
of the world. As long as the [Haitian] people are
deprived of their humanity and their dignity, we
must continue the fight. Why is Jovenel Moïse
still in Haiti? It's because he supported and
continues to support those foreign powers who do
not want change in Haiti. The Haitian people have
the right to dignity, the right to be masters in
their own homes and the right to sovereignty. We
have the right to demand it and to demand that
foreign governments -- such as the Canadian,
French, and American governments -- not interfere
in the internal affairs of our country. They
interfere and after that they say that we are
responsible for the situation in Haiti; that it is
we, the Haitian people, who are corrupt. That's
what's called "development aid" and behind that
whole masquerade are the hands pulling the strings
of misery in Haiti. The Haitian people are not
responsible. We must continue the fight to the
end. Long live the struggle of the Haitian
people!"
An activist invited all the protesters to a
viewing of Elaine Brière's "Haiti betrayed"
on November 24 at 6:00 pm at La Maison
d'Haïti. The film deals with the role of the
Canadian government in Haiti. It's an opportunity
to learn about and continue to discuss and
exchange on Canadian foreign policy, which must
take a new direction.
 
This article was published in
Volume 49 Number 29 - November 30, 2019
Article Link:
Rising with Haiti! Demonstrators Demand Justice, Dignity and Reparations
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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