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Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine: Human rights activist<br>
3rd year anniversary of his kidnapping<br>
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On August 12, 2007, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine—a beloved father and husband,
a psychologist and an advocate for the poor—was kidnapped. This
Saturday, August 14—the 219th anniversary of Bwa Kayiman, the ceremony
which began the Haitian Revolution—Haiti Action Committee will come
together to stand in solidarity with Lovinsky, his family, and the people
of Haiti. In addition, we will be having an open meeting to discuss
the current situation in Haiti.<br>
<br>
Time: Saturday, August 14, 10AM – 1 PM<br>
Location: Niebyl Proctor Library – 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland<br>
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<u>Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine: Human rights activist<br>
</u> <br>
Three years ago this August, human rights activist Lovinsky
Pierre-Antoine was kidnapped in occupied Haiti. Since his youth,
Lovinsky has fought in struggles for Haitian street children, teenage
mothers, and the poor. He founded and coordinated Fondasyon Trant
Septamn, an organization that advocates for victims of the first coup
against President Aristide’s democratically elected government in
1991. Lovinsky was a vocal opponent of the 2004 coup in which
US-backed forces toppled the democratic government of Aristide second
administration. He bravely and tirelessly denounced the United
States, French, and Canadian government for establishing an occupation
whose goal has been to destroy Lavalas, the grassroots movement of the
poor majority in Haiti. <br>
<br>
Lovinsky also spoke out against the United Nations which, after replacing
the US military in June 2004, has waged a full scale war against the poor
and supporters of Lavalas. UN troops have conducted military
operations in poor neighborhoods like Cite Soleil, a stronghold of the
Lavalas movement; they have been accused of rape, sexual abuse, and child
prostitution; they have imprisoned thousands of Aristide supporters; and
they have backed the Haitian police in its repression of the poor, while
generally leaving right-wing paramilitary groups untouched. It is
no wonder that Lovinsky said, “The UN is an accomplice of the war against
the poor in Haiti.”<br>
<br>
Three years ago this August, Lovinsky was abducted after leaving a
meeting with a Canadian and American human rights delegation. It
was just days after he led a demonstration on the 92nd anniversary of the
first US occupation of Haiti in 1915. In his speech during that
demonstration—held in front of the UN headquarters—Lovinsky called for
the release of political prisoners, for the return of Aristide from exile
in South Africa, and for an end to the occupation. In the
years since his kidnapping, grassroots organizers in Haiti and
internationally have called for Lovinsky’s safe return and have demanded
that occupation authorities—including the Preval administration, the UN,
and the US embassy—conduct a proper investigation of this crime.
Three years later, we continue to call for accountability and to stand in
solidarity with Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine. <br><br>
WHERE IS LOVINSKY?<br><br>
<br>
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<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
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