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By Any Means Necessary
since 2004. The masses yearn for democracy. The Haitian police has engaged in political repression of the movement under the UN’s watch. Right-wing paramilitary forces have participated in counter-insurgency popular movement under the UN’s watch. Right-wing paramilitary forces have participated in counterinsurgency during the UN occupation, including kidnapping grassroots activists and leaders, including Lavalas organizer Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine who disappeared in 2007. The Haitian masses have had enough! Since the occupation, the Haitian grassroots movement has mobilized tens of thousands to the streets to confront police terror and right-wing paramilitary. Without arms they are willing to sacrifice their bodies and lives facing armed police and paramilitary thugs in the streets to overturn an illegitimate government. The recent uncovering of U.S. mercenaries captured in Haiti and confession that they were working “for the government” reminds us of U.S. imperialism’s connection to the denial of Haitian democracy and self-determination. International solidarity for Haiti has been inconsistent though. The anti-imperialist solidarity movement in the U.S. empire and left forces have often been silent in the face of occupation and the coup of the popularly elected Lavalas government and people’s power in Haiti. Black liberation forces have been inconsistent at best, some limiting their attention to the romantic identification with the 19th century Haitian Revolution and Vodou, while ignoring the current fight for democracy and human rights in Haiti. The Haitian Revolution and culture of resistance is inspirational. Let us also be inspired by the courage and sacrifice of the Haitian people’s flood against right-wing forces supported by U.S. imperialism, France, and Canada today. We must build consistent anti-imperialist and internationalist solidarity for the Haitian grassroots movement. We must challenge U.S. policy and the UN occupation of Haiti. We must increase our contact and support for the popular, pro-democratic forces of the Haiti, including solidarity for Fanmi Lavalas. The New Afrikan People’s Organization and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement support the demands of Fanmi Lavalas: 1) Obtain the resignation of Jovenel Moïse through a general mobilization; 2) Resignation of Jean-Henry Céant and all his ministers; 3) Assess the dysfunction and lapses in the Parliament; 4) Put in place an executive and a government of public safety to ensure a transition for a period of 36 months.
References for Further Reading Auguste, Annette. (2003). We Will Not Forget: The Achievements of Lavalas in Haiti. Hallward, Peter. (2010). Damming the Flood: Haiti and the Politics of Containment. Fanmi Lavalas (2018). “Crisis and Resolution” (statement). https://haitisolidarity.net/crisis-and-resolution/. Labossiere, P., Roth, R., & Flynn, L. 2003. Hidden from the Headlines: The US war against Haiti. Robinson, Randall. 2007. An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, From Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President. Haiti Action Committee. www.haitisolidarity.net