"This month we honor Haitian culture and history through observing Haitian Heritage Month. May 18 is Haitian Flag Day, the day that Black and mixed-race Haitians united their forces against the French colonial army, paving the way to its defeat. It is also the day, in 1803, that formerly enslaved Haitians ripped the white out of the red, white and blue flag, to create the first red and blue Haitian flag.
We are celebrating Haitian heritage during a moment of extreme tragedy. According to the United Nations, in the first three months of 2023 gangs killed at least 846 people, injured 393 and kidnapped 395. 600 people were killed in April. There is no accountability and no justice, and there are reports of some police officers collaborating with gang leaders. Some Haitian citizens are taking matters into their own hands. In April, the United Nations documented at least 164 mob killings and lynchings of alleged gang members, including reports of people being burned alive. "
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Faith-Based Advocates Across the Americas Denounce the Asylum Ban |
"[May 11] finally marks the end of the Title 42 order, but we lament that this will not bring the relief that migrants have desperately awaited for three years. Together, the Franciscan Network for Migrants and the Quixote Center condemn the Biden administration's proposed rule to bar asylum, as well as regional efforts to limit the human right to free and safe movement.
The new rule will bar migrants from being able to seek asylum unless they meet one of several extremely narrow criteria, such as having applied for asylum in a third country and been denied, or having successfully secured one of very limited asylum appointment slots through the convoluted CBP one smartphone app. As human rights defenders, this rule is confusing and difficult to navigate; for migrants, we fear it will make accessing asylum near-impossible."
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Quixote Center Joins Catholic Groups in Opposing Anti-Immigrant Legislation |
This week, Quixote Center and 12 other groups joined a letter led by NETWORK Catholic Lobby in opposing an anti-immigrant bill. The letter calls on Representatives to vote NO on the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which among other horrifying proposals, would deport unaccompanied children and cut federal funding for many nonprofits that provide aid to undocumented migrants. |
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Take Action for Peace in Haiti |
Violence in Haiti is ramping up, and tragically 600 people died in Haiti in April alone. A bipartisan effort, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act seeks to impose individual sanctions on those responsible for the violence: gang leaders and the political and economic elites who support them. Use this form to urge your Senators to support the bill!
If your Senator is one of the co-sponsors listed HERE, we ask that you instead send a thank-you message. |
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This week, we are featuring Haitian painter Madsen Mompremier. Born in Gonaives in 1952, in his early artistic career Mompremier painted scenes of everyday Haitian life, including people in villages and cane fields. In 1975, he began portraying Vodou gods, or Iwa, in a style he would continue to experiment with and refine for 30 years. His favorite figure to depict Erzulie, Goddess of Love, who also has an incarnation known as La Sirene. Coincidentally, Mompremier's wife was named Erzulie, but she tragically died in the 2010 earthquake.
- "Erzuli, Queen of Heaven," 1983
- "Vodou Ceremony," 1980s
- "Dessalines Ripping the White from the Flag," 1995
All paintings are courtesy of the Haitian Art Society. |
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