We urge organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and internationally to take action the week of February 20 – 28 to support efforts for human rights, national sovereignty, and democracy for Haiti. We hope that you will join with others in helping to raise awareness of the situation facing people in Haiti, in raising funds to assist those Haitian organizations who need our support, and in taking action to pressure for a U.S. foreign policy that will let Haiti live.

Please contact us if you are planning activities for Haiti Solidarity Week. Email coordinator Dan Beeton at danb@quixote.org, or call 301-699-0042 x 121.

Background:

Last February 29th, Jean Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president, was once again forced to leave Haiti as armed gangs marched toward Port au Prince and the Bush administration pressured Aristide to leave.

The current interim government, under the leadership of Gerard Latortue, has waged a war against the Fanmi Lavalas, Aristide's party, since taking power. Leaders of Lavalas have been imprisoned and violence against Lavalas supporters has increased. Latortue's regime has also attacked labor unions, peasant organizations, and other activists in a bloody campaign of repression. Masked policemen roam the streets shooting street children for sport. The United Nations' mission has failed to disarm the rebel groups that forced Aristide out of power and has been unable, if not unwilling, to put a stop to the bloodshed.

There is now talk of elections later this year, though many questions remain: Will the UN mission provide adequate security for elections? Will Fanmi Lavalas be allowed to participate? Will they be willing to participate? Will Aristide be allowed to return from exile? While we support a return to democratic rule, elections that marginalize Fanmi Lavalas can not be viewed as legitimate, nor can there be healing if the crimes of the past year are swept under a veil of impunity.

As if that were not enough, in May, flooding in southern Haiti killed 1,600. Then Hurricane Jeanne pounded Haiti in September, killing at least 2,500 people in Gonaives.

International solidarity with the people of Haiti is critical during this violent, orchestrated attack on democracy and human rights and in the aftermath of manmade and natural disasters that have affected thousands of Haitians.

Goals for Haiti Solidarity Week 2005:

Our goals this year are to support two essential demands to support the people of Haiti:

 Temporary protective status for Haitian asylum seekers in the U.S.

 A congressional investigation into the U.S. role in last year's coup.

These are both areas in which grassroots pressure can make an impact in changing U.S. policy on Haiti. We are calling for Wednesday, February 23rd, to be a national call-in day to Congress to support these demands.

As always, Haiti Solidarity Week is meant to strengthen solidarity with the people of Haiti and support their efforts to resist poverty and violent oppression and rebuild their society. To that end, some groups participating in Haiti Solidarity Week will organize activities to support the struggles of labor unions, women's groups, or peasant organizations in Haiti, including advocacy efforts or fundraisers. Other groups will hold vigils or other awareness-raising events to build support for the people of Haiti within their own communities.

Action Ideas:

Meet with your member of Congress: Members of Congress will be in there home districts during the week of February 21-25. Organize a meeting with your member of Congress to ask for an end to discrimination against Haitian immigrants, and for an investigation into the U.S role in the coup last February. You can find materials to assist you on our website, or give us a call (301) 699-0042.

International Vigil on February 28. President Aristide was forced out of the country on February 29, 2004. On the evening of February 28, 2005 we will honor the victims of the coup d’etat and the ongoing violence, while demanding a return to democracy for Haiti. Join thousands of others around the world by organizing a vigil in your community. All you need are a few candles, some friends, and an open space to gather. Try to get some press to your event (see our website, or call us for ideas on how to do this).

Faith Reflection: On Sunday February 20 we are calling on faith communities to have a reflection on the situation in Haiti. We have some materials to help with this on our website – or give us a call and we will send it to you. Take up a collection for Haiti to help with reconstruction needs.

Fundraising: Hold a fundraiser to support a local solidarity organization or other group working in Haiti. We have fundraising ideas on our website. The work that we and other groups do is only possible through the support of folks like you. Fundraisers are also a time to educate others about the situation in Haiti.

Please contact us if you want to participate in Haiti Solidarity Week. Email coordinator Dan Beeton at danb@quixote.org, or call 301-699-0042 x121.

For more information see the Haiti Reborn website, www.haitireborn.org or call us at 301-699-0042.

Haiti Reborn is a program of the Quixote Center that works in the United States on behalf of the Haitian people to build an active grassroots solidarity movement and to advocate for a more just U.S. foreign policy. Haiti Reborn acts as a center of information to combat negative stereotypes, and provides in-depth political, economic, and social analysis. To complement this work at a structural level, we fund community-based initiatives which empower Haitians at the grassroots.