[News] Haiti - Stop the Attacks on Former President Jean Bertrand Aristide and the Lavalas Movement

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Since his return to Haiti in 2011, former President Jean-Bertrand 
Aristide, has led the reopening of the University of the Aristide 
Foundation (UNIFA), which now has over 900 students in medical, nursing 
and law schools.

Yet President Aristide continues to be the target of government 
repression. On August 21, Haitian police wearing black masks and 
carrying heavy arms appeared in front of his home as a Haitian judge 
issued calls to arrest him. Hundreds of people courageously surrounded 
the house to protect him. Now, the same judge has ordered him to be 
placed under "house arrest," even though no such provision exists under 
Haitian law.

On the other hand, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, the former dictator 
responsible for the deaths of thousands of Haitians, lives freely in 
Haiti, embraced by the current Haitian president, Michel Martelly.

This is outrageous.

We are releasing the attached open letter – signed by Danny Glover, 
Selma James, Pierre Labossiere, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and numerous other 
progressive individuals and organizations – to echo the many calls from 
our sisters and brothers in Haiti to end the repression now.

We encourage you to distribute this letter widely.  If you would like to 
sign on, please e-mail us at: <action.haiti at gmail.com 
<mailto:action.haiti at gmail.com>.>
**********************************************************

/*Stop the Attacks on Former President Jean Bertrand Aristide and the 
Lavalas Movement */

On August 21, Haitian police wearing black masks and carrying heavy arms 
appeared in front of the home of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide 
as a Haitian judge issued calls to arrest him. Hundreds of people 
courageously surrounded the house to protect him.

One week before, President Aristide was summoned to court on false 
corruption charges.This is the fourth time since his return to Haiti in 
2011 that he has been the target of a politically motivated legal case. 
(Previous charges were dropped before he could even challenge them in 
court.) The judge in this case, Lamarre Bélizaire, has been suspended 
for ten years from practicing the law by the Port-au-Prince Bar 
Association for using the court to persecute opponents of the present 
regime. His suspension is due to begin once he steps down as judge.

President Aristide, a former priest, was Haiti’s first democratically 
elected president. He is loved and trusted by the majority of Haitians. 
While in office he built schools and hospitals, encouraged agriculture 
and doubled the minimum wage. He was removed and forced into exile with 
his family in 2004 by a US-backed military coup.Thousands of members of 
his Lavalas movement were killed, raped or falsely imprisoned in the 
aftermath of the coup.

In 2011, after seven years of grassroots organizing in Haiti backed up 
by an international campaign, President Aristide and his family returned 
home.Tens of thousands of people welcomed him. He promised to work for 
education and the inclusion of all Haitians in the democratic process. 
He has done just that – reopening the Aristide Foundation’s university, 
UNIFA, where today over 900 students from all sectors of society, 
including those who cannot afford higher education, are training to 
become doctors, nurses and lawyers.

Legislative elections due to take place in Haiti in October are 
triggering a new chilling wave of repression aimed at President Aristide 
and his supporters.Lavalas has overwhelming won every election in which 
it has participated, but since the 2004 coup the party has been barred 
from elections.As a result, fewer than 20% of Haitians turned out for 
the flawed election that brought the current President Michel Martelly 
to power in 2011.The Martelly government has not held an election since, 
and legislative elections are now three years overdue. Determined to 
consolidate dictatorial power, the Martelly government has 
systematically attempted to defame Lavalas, throwing out one set of 
accusations after another against President Aristide and other respected 
Lavalas leaders such as former Senator Myrlande Liberis-Pavert.

While President Aristide is being threatened with arrest, former 
dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier – who is responsible for the 
deaths of thousands of Haitians during his rule – is living freely in 
Haiti, and has been openly embraced by Martelly.

Since the devastating earthquake and the cholera epidemic, doctors, 
nurses and other healthcare professionals training at UNIFA are needed 
more than ever. President Aristide must be able to carry on with his 
vital work as an educator.

The last time President Aristide was summoned, thousands of people 
surrounded the courthouse, chanting: “If they call our brother, they 
call all of us.” We echo their voices. Enough is enough. It is time for 
food, housing, health care and education. It is time for free, fair, and 
inclusive elections in Haiti, not dictatorship, so the urgent needs of 
the population can be addressed. The arrest warrant and other false 
charges aimed at President Aristide and his supporters should be dropped 
once and for all.

Signers:

*Danny Glover*, Actor and Human Rights Activist

*Selma James*, Author and International Coordinator, Global Women’s 
Strike (GWS)/UK

*Pierre Labossiere*, Co-founder, Haiti Action Committee

*Mumia Abu-Jamal*, Journalist and death row prisoner

*Jerry Acosta, *Senior National Representative, Utility Workers Union of 
America**

*Dr. Adrianne Aron, *Liberation Psychologist**

*Kali Akuno*, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM)

*ALBATV*(Venezuela)

*Alexandria House, *Los Angeles, CA**

*Bilal Mafundi Ali, *Organization of African American Unity**

*Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma'at, *Founder, Africans Deserve Reparations**

*Akubundu Amazu-Lott*, Central Committee AAPRP

*Jack Albert, *Windsor Peace Coalition, Windsor, Ontario**

*A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition*- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (U.S.)

*Arab Resource & Organizing Center *(AROC)**

*Ayuko Babu, *Pan African Film Festival**

*Michael Bass*, School of the Americas Watch

*Bay Area Latin America Solidarity Committee*(BALASC)

*Richard Becker*, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition - (U.S.)**

*Dennis J. Bernstein, *Executive Producer KPFA/Flashpoints**

*Johanna Berrigan, *House of Grace Catholic Worker, Philadelphia, Pa.

*Diana Block, *California Coalition for Women Prisoners**

*Diana Bohn*, Nicaragua Center for Community Action, Berkeley, CA

*Blase and Theresa Bonpane*, Directors, Office of the Americas

*Richard Brown*, San Francisco 8/Committee for Defense of Human Rights

*Dr. Siri Brown*, Chair of Ethnic Studies, Merritt College

*Mark Burton, *Visiting Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University, 
Manchester, UK**

*Reverend Richard Meri Ka Ra Byrd*

*Joey Cain*, SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee Board Member

*Rossana Cambron*, member of Military Families Speak Out

*Dolores Canales*, Organizer and activist

*Laura Carlsen*

*Andrea Casher*, PsyD, ABPP

*Chiapas Support Committee *– Los Angeles**

*CIP Americas Program*

*Terry Collins*, KPOO

*Brian Concannon*, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)

*Shandre Delaney, *Human Rights Coalition-Fed Up and Abolitionist Law 
Center, Pittsburgh, PA

*Jacques Depelchin*, Historian

*Dignity and Power Now *– Los Angeles**

*Emory Douglas, *former Minister of Culture, Black Panther Party**

*Sister Maureen Duignan*, Executive Director, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant

*Carolina Dutton*, Bay Area Latin America Solidarity Coalition (BALASC)**

*Derethia DuVal, *PhD, MFT, SFSU Director of Counseling & Psychological 
Services Center**

*Mia Engberg, *Documentary Filmmaker, Sweden**

*Ecumenical Peace Institute/CALC*

*Linda Evans, *Organizer*, *All Of Us Or None**

*Leslie Fleming*, Director, Anthropology Program, Merritt College, 
Oakland, CA

*Laura Flynn, *Author**

*FMLN *- Northern California**

*Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular *(Honduras)**

*Cindy Forster, *Professor, Scripps College, California**

*Tova Fry*, Workers World Party

*Mattias Gardell, *Professor Comparative Religion, Uppsala University, 
Sweden**

*Anna-Maria Gentili, *Professor History and Politics, Bologna 
University, Italy, retired**

*David Gespass*, former President, National Lawyers Guild

*David Gibson, *Peacehome Campaigns**

*Eric Gjertsen and Dean Kendall, *Payday men’s network**

*Andy Griggs, *LA Laborfest

*Deeg Gold, *LAGAI Queer Insurrection

*Sister Stella Marie Goodpasture, *OP,**Dominican Sisters of Mission San 
Jose, CA**

*Guerilla Food Not Bombs*

*Ben Guillory*

*Bishop Thomas Gumbleton*, Archdiocese of Detroit

*Professor Shadrack Gutto, *PhD,**University of South Africa**

*Daletha Hayden, *RN and activist**

*Genesy Hernandez*, Union Salvadorena de Estudiantes Universitarios, UC 
Berkeley

*Charles Hinton, *Inkworks Press, worker-owned collective**

*Marcus Holder, *ILWU Local 10 delegate to San Francisco Labor Council**

*Hondurans in Resistance –*NorCal**

*Gerald Horne, *Historian**

*Phil Hutchings*, Civil Rights activist (SNCC)

*Nehanda Imara, *AAPRP Organizer & Faculty at AFRAM Merritt College

*Dr. Nia Imara*, Harvard University

*International Action Center*

*Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi, *Campaign Director LAANE (Los Angeles Alliance for 
a New Economy)

*Sister Gloria Marie Jones, *OP,**Congregational Prioress Dominican 
Sisters of Mission San Jose

*Hank Jones, *Committee for the Defense of Human Rights**

*Phoebe Jones, *PhD,**Quaker, Global Women’s Strike**

*James Jordan and Chuck Kaufman, *National Co-Coordinators, Alliance for 
Global Justice**

*William Joyce*, Chair, Fr. Bill O'Donnell Social Justice Committee

*Malaika Kambon, *Photojournalist**

*Sara Kershnar, *International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network**

*Nadine Khoury-Quesada, *RN, Trauma Nurse, San Francisco General Hospital

*Nunu Kidane,*Director, Priority Africa Network

*Marcus Kryshka*, Executive Vice President, National Lawyers Guild

*Eusi Kwayana*, Caribbean Activist Without Borders

*Tchaiko Kwayana*, Educator

*Labor Community Strategy Center *(Los Angeles)**

*Regina Day Langhout, *PhD,**Provost, Oakes College, University of 
California at Santa Cruz**

*Marilyn Langlois*, Richmond CA Planning Commissioner

*Gloria La Riva, *National Committee to Free the Cuban Five**

*Rev. Dr. Phil Lawson*, Pastor Emeritus, Easter Hill United Methodist Church

*Richard Lichtman*, Professor Emeritus, Philosophy, The Wright 
Institute, Berkeley, CA

*George Lippman, *Vice-Chair, Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission [for 
identification only]**

*Rev. Dr. Lewis E. Logan, II*

*Jose Lopez*, Executive Director, Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Chicago

*Nina Lopez*, Coordinator Latin America working group GWS/Argentina, UK

*Jacqui Lovell, *PhD Candidate, York St. John University, U.K**

*Barbara Lubin, *Director Middle East Children’s Alliance

*M. Brinton Lykes*, Associate Director, Center for Human Rights & 
International Justice, Boston College

*Robert Majzler, *University of California at Santa Cruz**

*Claude Marks*, Freedom Archives

*Gayle McLaughlin*, Mayor, City of Richmond, CA

*Anita Schrader McMillan, *Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK

*David McPhail*, Ruling Elder, St. John's Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, CA

*Judith Mirkinson*, San Francisco Women’s International League for Peace 
and Freedom**

*Wazir Mohamed*, Associate Professor, Sociology

*Alejandro Molina*, National Boricua Human Rights Network

*Movimiento Cumbe Afrosalud Barlovento *(Venezuela)**

*Leslie Mullin, *San Francisco Women in Black

*Michael Neocosmos, *Director UHURU program, Rhodes University, South 
Africa**

*Robert Nixon*, School of the Americas Watch – Oakland, East Bay

*Kwazi Nkrumah, *Co-Chair, Martin Luther King Coalition of Greater Los 
Angeles**

*Kiilu Nyasha*, Host//Freedom is a Constant Struggle/

*Oakland-Santiago de Cuba Sister Cities Association*

*Ofraneh *(Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña, Honduras)**

*Catherine Owen, *Human Rights Committee & District Labor Council, 
Windsor, Ontario**

*Tanalis Padilla, *Professor of History, Dartmouth College, New 
Hampshire, U.S.**

*Rosa Peñate*, FMLN – Northern California

*Peter Phillips, *PhD, President Media Freedom Foundation/Project Censored**

*Kevin Pina, *Documentary Filmmaker**

*Richard Pithouse, *Professor Politics and International Studies, Rhodes 
University**

*Suyapa Portillo, *Comité Solidario Graciela Garcia**

*Margaret Power,*Professor of History, Illinois Institute of Technology

*Margaret Prescod, *Host “Sojourner Truth,” Pacifica Radio & Women of 
Color/GWS/US

*Porfirio Quintano*, Coordinator, Honduran Resistance FNRP Northern 
California

*James Quesada, *PhD, Chair and Professor, Department of Anthropology, 
San Francisco State University (SFSU)

*Kate Raphael*, Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism (QUIT), KPFA 
Women's Magazine**

*Mary Ratcliff, *Editor, San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper

*Dr. Willie Ratcliff, *Publisher, San Francisco Bay View National Black 
Newspaper**

*Barbara Rhine*, Attorney

*Wilson Riles, *Oakland C.A.N.**

*Walter Riley*, Attorney, Chair of Board, Haiti Emergency Relief Fund

*William I. Robinson, *Professor of Sociology, University of 
California-Santa Barbara**

*Robert Roth*, Co-founder, Haiti Action Committee

*Alex Sanchez, *Executive Director, Homies Unidos**

*Carolyn Scarr*, Ecumenical Peace Institute/CALC

*Azadeh Shahshahani*, President, National Lawyers Guild

*Dan Siegel*, Attorney, Oakland, CA

*Dr. Vito Signorile, *Professor Emeritus, Windsor, Ontario**

*Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons*, National Council of Elders

*AJ Smith, *Artist, Windsor, Ontario**

*Bob Smith*, Brandywine Peace Community

*Susan Gold Smith, *Professor Emerita, Windsor, Ontario**

*Dale Sorensen*, Director, Marin Interfaith Task force on the Americas

*Jeb Sprague, *Author and Instructor, UCSB**

*Patricia St. Onge*, Seven Generations, Nafsi ya Jamii: The Soul Community

*Ruth Todasco, *Every Mother is a Working Mother Network**

*Clarence Thomas, *member ILWU Local 10**

*Willie Thompson, *Professor Emeritus Sociology, City College of San 
Francisco**

*Walter Turner*, President, Board of Directors, Global Exchange

*Akinyele Umoja*, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of African 
American Studies, Georgia State University

*Lisa Valenti*, US Cuba Sister City Association

*Sister Judy Vaughan, CSJ*

*Gloria Verdieu*

*Margaret Villamizar, *Chair, Windsor Peace Coalition, Windsor, Ontario**

*Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, *Congolese Historian, Philosopher**

*Kristin Wartman, *Author and Journalist**

*Tom Webb*, Oakland Catholic Worker

*David Welsh*, delegate, San Francisco Labor Council

*Michel Wenzer, *Documentary Filmmaker, Sweden**

*Laura Whitehorn, *former political prisoner**

*Witness For Peace Southwest*

*Michael Wong*

*Workers World Party*

*Pauline Wynter*

*Mario Zelaya*, Father Bill O'Donnell Social Justice Committee, Berkeley, CA

/Affiliations listed for identification purposes only/

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Initiated by Haiti Action Committee & Global Women’s Strike

Sent by Haiti Action Committee
www.haitisolidarity.net <http://www.haitisolidarity.net/>



-- 
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