Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

The Black Jacobins and the disappearance of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

On Saturday 2 February, Selma James  dedicated her key note speech at a conference marking the 70th anniversary of CLR James's masterpiece “The Black Jacobins”, to Lovinsky Pierre Antoine, the abducted human rights defender missing in Haiti for over 6 months.

The Black Jacobins is CLR James classic study of the Haitian Revolution.  The people of Haitian were the first to overthrow their slave masters and defeat the most powerful empire of the time.  Their victory strengthened the struggle to end slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean, and everyone resisting exploitation and injustice.  It directly aided the anti-colonial movement in South America: Liberator Simon Bolivar took refuge in free Haiti twice and Haitian soldiers joined his ranks asking no other reward than the abolition of slavery. 

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is a much loved and respected advocate for the poor.  He is a co-founder of Fondasyon Trant Septanm, an organization for the families of the victims of the 1991 and 1994 coups - the first against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.  Like the Mothers of the Disappeared in Central and South America, they hold weekly vigils demanding justice for victims of human rights violations and the release of political prisoners. 

Lovinsky is also co-founder of Fondasyon Kore Timoun Yo for young street children in Port-au-Prince, of FAM, a centre for teenage mothers, and of Map Viv (“I Live”) which gives medical support to the victims of the 1991 and 1994 coups. 

Selma James, widow and close colleague of CLR for almost 30 years is co-ordinator of the Global Women's Strike which holds a weekly Fast and Vigil for Lovinsky.  She says: “We have a great debt to the Haitian people whose victorious revolution led the way.  The Haitian Revolution has survived the imposition of a crippling debt, numerous coups and dictatorships.  It is alive today in the extraordinary resilience and courage of people like Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine.  CLR would have been delighted to see that his book was being used to raise the profile of today's Revolution.

We can't just stand by.  We have to ask the Commissioner for Human Rights and Forced Disappearances of the United Nations to take action.  What is Brazil, which heads the UN forces that occupy Haiti, doing?  What is the United States doing?  They were quick to go in and force President Aristide out.  They have enormous power.  What are they doing now to find Lovinsky?  We must leave no stone unturned.” Amnesty International has just issued a second Urgent Action Report for Lovinsky Pierre Antoine and his colleague Wilson Mésilien (Monday 28 January 08, see attached, available in English, and French Spanish).  Haitian people are keeping up determined efforts to ensure Lovinsky's safe return, and need ongoing international support. 

How you can continue support for Lovinsky:

Circulate Amnesty International's report and fax or email the Haiti government and other authorities listed.  LINK Join the Weekly Fast and Vigil every Wednesday 5-6pm outside the Brazilian Embassy, 32 Green Street, London W1 7AT.  Brazil heads the UN forces in Haiti.
Write/Email/Fax the Brazilian Embassy every Wednesday.  We have heard that the Embassy has received many letters.

If you can't come to the Vigil, fast where you are and let us know.  Wear a Lovinsky badge available from the Centre on  020 7 482 2496.    Sign and circulate in your networks the  [NEW online petition.

Over 2,000 including many prominent people such as actors Danny Glover, Martin Sheen and Vanessa Redgrave have signed already.

Remind your MP to sign John McDonnell's Early Day Motion, and contact your local press/media about Lovinsky.  Let us know if you'd like to call a Vigil or gather signatures on the petition in your area.  Ask your church or faith group to hold a service for Lovinsky.  A number have already taken place.  It's an important way of keeping him present and with us.  For information about actions for Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, model letters and the AI reports  from the Global Womens Strike,  Crossroads Women's Centre, 230a Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2AB Tel: 020 7482 2496 womenstrike8m@server101.com

For info about the Conference, organised by the London Socialist Historians  Institute of Historical Research, 10am-4.30pm, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1 £10

Urgent appel pour assurer le retour indemne de Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, activiste des droits humains haïtien porté disparu

Chères amies, chers amis,

 

 

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, un activiste   des droits humains haïtien de renommée internationale a été porté   disparu depuis le 12 août.

 

Vous trouverez   ci-dessous un appel, demandant qu'il soit retourné indemne à sa famile et à   son travail de défense des droits humains, destiné au Président d'Haïti   René Préval, ainsi qu'aux consulats/ambassades/Haut-Commissariats du Brésil,   du Canada et des États-Unis dans le pays où vous vous trouvez. Ces   gouvernements jouent un rôle crucial à l'égard des forces de l'ONU (dirigées   par le Brésil) qui assument la responsabilité de la loi et l'ordre en   Haïti. Des renseignements sur le contexte de cet appel sont   fournis ci-dessous. Le lien de l'appel (en anglais) est   le petition.   

     

Nous vous   invitons à ajouter votre nom pour faire savoir aux destinataires de cet appel   l'urgence avec laquelle Lovinsky doit être retourné indemne. Jusqu'à présent   plus de 500 organisations, personnalités et autres individus ont déjà   signé en provenance de 16 pays des Caraïbes, ainsi que d'autres pays, y   compris l'acteur/activiste Danny Glover, l'écrivain George Lamming, le   journaliste Rickey Singh; le Walter Rodney Commemorative Committee   (Caraïbes, États-Unis, Royaume-Uni, Canada, Afrique); les centres de femmes   Crossroads (Espagne, États-Unis, Guyane, Royaume-Uni); le conseil de la   station de radio KPFK, Pacifica Radio (Californie).
  Premières signatures ci-dessous.

 

Femmes de Couleur dans la Grève mondiale   des femmes et Red Thread (Guyane)

 

womenstrike8m@server101.com    www.globalwomenstrike.net

he Failure of Human Rights Watch in Venezuela and Haiti

The way Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Haiti and Venezuela in its 2008 World Report reveals an underlying assumption that the US and its allies have the right to overthrow democratic governments.[1] It is a matter of public record that the US funded groups who were involved in the coup of 2002 and continued to do so after the coup took place, but rather than denounce or even acknowledge US destabilization efforts in Venezuela, HRW continues to complain about the non-renewal of RCTV's public broadcasting license.  [2] RCTV was one of big television networks that aided and abetted the coup.  HRW objects that RCTV's involvement in the coup "was not proven in a proceeding in which RCTV had an opportunity to present a defense." It is impossible to imagine a non-farcical proceeding that would conclude otherwise, especially when the coup's perpetrators thanked the private media, of which RCTV was a major part, for its help.  Before the coup was reversed Vice-Admiral Ramirez Perez told a Venezuelan reporter:

"We had a deadly weapon: the media.  And now that I have the opportunity, let me congratulate you."

Judging by its reports, HRW is completely uninterested in whether the broadcaster that replaced RCTV on the public airwaves, TVes, offers viewers a wider variety of views.  [3]"Freedom of the Press Barons" to perpetrate coups appears to be HRW's concern, not freedom of expression.  It is worth remembering that HRW's response to the coup in Venezuela was appalling.  Al Giordano summed their response up well in an exchange with an HRW intern:

"They recognized an illegitimate 'authority' as legitimate.  They failed to call for the removal of that dictatorial regime.  They failed to call on other nations and the OAS to refuse to recognize it.  They failed to call for invoking the OAS Democratic Charter for the one event it was intended to prevent."[4] Giordano's words could also be used to summarize how HRW responded to the US backed coup in Haiti in 2004.

HRW used the 2008 World Report to criticize, yet again, a judicial reform law that was passed by the Chavez administration in 2004.  In contrast, HRW's summary about Haiti said nothing about the coup that ousted Jean Bertrand Aristide's democratic government in 2004; nothing about the subsequent murder of thousands of people who supported Aristide's Lavalas movement (the word "Lavalas" does not even appear in the summary); nothing about the fact that Haiti's police and judiciary remain stacked with appointees from the dictatorship of 2004-2006; nothing about Father Gerard Jean Juste, the most prominent political prisoner of that period, who continues to be hounded by Haiti's legal system.  [5] Even if HRW's criticism of Venezuela's judicial reform law of 2004 were reasonable (and it isn't) it cannot deserve more attention than the coup in Haiti that led to a human rights catastrophe.  [6] On a positive note, the 2008 World Report belatedly gave some attention to the disappearance of Lovinsky Pierre Antoine, a prominent Haitian human rights worker and opponent of the 2004 coup.  HRW stated:

"In August 2007 a well known human rights advocate, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, was abducted.  At this writing his whereabouts remain unknown."

Again, the absence of the word "Lavalas" is telling.  Pierre-Antoine disappeared days after he had announced that he would run for the Haitian senate as a Fanmi Lavalas Party candidate.  The goal of the 2004 coup and the bloodbath that followed was to eliminate the Lavalas movement - the same goal with basically the same perpetrators as during the 1991-1994 period about which HRW reported extensively.  [7] At first glance, the 2008 World Report seems to provide courageous and much needed criticism of powerful countries like the US.  HRW is willing to contradict the Bush Administration on some important matters.  For example, in a press conference about the 2008 World Report, HRW director Ken Roth refused to label Venezuela as a "closed country". 

However, Roth went on to say that human rights "trends were negative in Venezuela".  That conclusion is justified only if one assumes that perpetrating coups and other acts of sabotage against a democratic government should have no legal repercussions at all.  Meanwhile, in Haiti, when human rights trends really were disastrously negative thanks to a coup backed by the US and its allies, HRW displayed a chilling indifference.[8] An important lesson to learn from the coups that took place in Haiti and Venezuela is that US imperialism cannot succeed through the efforts of Neocons alone.  It needs the help of other countries, and it needs the help of NGOs like Human Rights Watch.  [9] Joe Emersberger contribtues to HaitiAnalysis.com

Lovinsky honoured with human rights award

The Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East (HSNNE) has honoured Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine with its Human Rights Award on Saturday, May 10, in Bayonne NJ.  HSNNE will launch an action alert to fight for Lovinsky's return, which we will get out next week.

"HONORING LOVINSKY PIERRE-ANTOINE Today I join you in honoring the many and great contributions of our friend and brother Lovinsky Pierre Antoine.  At the center of his work has been the dignity of the Haitian people.  It guided Lovinsky as he raised his voice in unison with the people of Haiti in denouncing injustice, struggling for a better life and pursuing a non-violent path towards a democratic and free Haiti for all.  If Lovinsky were there with you today, his deep and bellowing voice would echo the demands of Haitians and the world’s poor for respect of the fundamental and human right to food and freedom from hunger.  His resolute commitment to peace and justice would demand no less.  In his absence, it is fitting and right that the Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East shine a light on Lovinsky’s vision by awarding him with the organization’s Human Rights Award.

May this award symbolize one more step towards a safe return of our beloved brother!  Peace and Love to his Family and to Haiti, our Mother Land".

Messages were sent from President Aristide and other supporters of Lovinsky and Haiti:

Dr.  Jean-Bertrand Aristide  President of Haiti Pretoria, South Africa May 2, 2008

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is truly deserving of the Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East’s Human Rights Award.  The range of his work is astounding – from organizing resistance to the military dictatorship of 1991 to 1994 to fighting to make the justice system responsive to Haiti’s poor and providing psychological treatment to victims of human rights violations.  Lovinsky has been successful in all of these endeavors because he keeps persisting in the face of great obstacles, and insists on non-violence in the face of great frustration and injustice.  Anyone who cares about human rights in Haiti is aggrieved that Lovinsky cannot be with you to accept his award.  Lovinsky's continued disappearance is, of course, a great personal tragedy, but it is also a great tragedy for the people of Haiti.  As Haiti faces continuing trials, it needs Lovinsky and his persistence and courage more than ever.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters U.S.  House of Representatives

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is truly deserving of the Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East’s Human Rights Award.  The range of his work is astounding – from organizing resistance to the military dictatorship of 1991 to 1994 to fighting to make the justice system responsive to Haiti’s poor and providing psychological treatment to victims of human rights violations.  Lovinsky has been successful in all of these endeavors because he keeps persisting in the face of great obstacles, and insists on non-violence in the face of great frustration and injustice. Anyone who cares about human rights in Haiti is aggrieved that Lovinsky cannot be with you to accept his award. Lovinsky's continued disappearance is, of course, a great personal tragedy, but it is also a great tragedy for the people of Haiti.  As Haiti faces continuing trials, it needs Lovinsky and his persistence and courage more than ever.

Brian Concannon Jr.  Director, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti

This testimonial is hard to write.  Lovinsky means so much to me, as a friend, advisor, an ally and an inspiration for the last twelve years.  And he means so much to the struggle for human rights in Haiti.  Perhaps the best measure of both Lovinsky’s achievement and his absence is how often I think "if only Lovinsky were here.” If Lovinsky were free today, he would be bringing disciplined, non-violent leadership to the fight for the right to food on Haiti’s streets; he would be sending clarity and strategy to those of us trying to respond from afar.  Lovinsky would have stood up when elections were postponed, when parliamentarians sought to forge ploughshares into swords by reviving the army.  If Lovinsky were free today, and if any other human rights advocate had been kidnapped, Lovinsky would be fighting for his or her release, with patience, intelligence and persistence.

Dr. Paul Farmer, Partners in Health/Zanmi Lasante

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine’s work stands as a robust and inspiring model of how to better accompany the poor through human rights advocacy.  He insists, as the poor do, on respect for all their human rights: the rights to eat, to receive basic healthcare and to learn in school, as well as the rights to vote, to speak freely and to protest.  Lovinsky understands the need to organize for change and to empower the poor to stand up for their own rights, which has been, indeed, the great lesson of all of Haitian history.  Most of all, Lovinsky understands that fundamental change requires patient persistence.  His organization of demonstrations for justice every Wednesday, week after week, year after year kept human rights and justice on the radar screen, and has inspired all of us.  It still does.

Mario Joseph, Esq. Bureau des Avocats Internationaux

The Founder and General Secretary of the 30 September Foundation, Lovinsky Pierre Antoine is a political activist and a tireless defender of Human Rights in Haiti.  As both a psychologist and a human rights defender, he has worked tirelessly and has participated in all of the struggles in favor of the poorest.  Lovinsky is a fighter and an activist of great courage who has never been afraid to confront the Haitian oligarchy and the anti-democratic sector which have always promoted social exclusion.  He is a man of character and conviction who, by his insight, his approach, his capacity to mobilize people, his commitment and his astuteness, was able to instill in me an understanding of the battle to establish democracy and the rule of law in Haiti.  In other words, his interpretations, his influence and his leadership have transcended his own profession.  His modesty and his simplicity make him an exemplary man.  His manners, his humility and his love for the Haitian people, particularly the oppressed, are a model worth following.  His absence has left a great hole amongst us.

Nicole Lee, Esq.  Executive Director,   TransAfrica Forum, Inc.

Lovinsky Pierre Antoine understands that the only way to improve Haiti for Haitians is to be voice for the voiceless on the international stage as well as push the Haitian government on all matters.  In the face of politicians and celebrities, Lovinsky is one of the best advocates I have ever met.  For years, Lovinsky held demonstrations to encourage the government to continue the fight against impunity.  When he was living in the US, he always pushed policy makers and advocates to demand truth about US policy towards Haiti and reform.  He knows that the fight of the victims of impunity would only be won through education, solidarity and sacrifice.  He has an unflinching commitment to denouncing overthrow of the government and to other truths about US policies towards Haiti that remain self-evident.  One of our last conversations was about his safety in living in Haiti once more.  He explained to me the importance of the right of return for all Haitians who live in exile abroad.  We discussed the importance of commitment and faith.  A leader, a father, a husband and a patriot, TransAfrica salutes our friend Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine and pledge to continue the fight for his release, for justice for the Haitian people and the entire African World.

Help Free Disappeared Human Rights Activist, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

Fear for safety / Possible “disappearance” : Wilson Mésilien, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

PUBLIC
AI Index: AMR 36/008/2007
18 December 2007
UA 336/07 Fear for safety / Possible “disappearance”
HAITI   

Wilson Mésilien (m), aged 39, human rights activist, interim coordinator of the Fondasyon Trant Septanm (30 September Foundation), Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine (m), aged 54, political and human rights activist, former coordinator of the Fondasyon Trant Septanm,

The life of Wilson Mésilien, the interim coordinator of Fondasyon Trant Septanm (30 September Foundation), may be at risk due to his continued work in defending the rights of the victims of the 1991-1994 military coup.  Amnesty International is even more concerned for his safety as the former coordinator of the Fondasyon, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, was kidnapped on 12 August and his whereabouts are still unknown. 

Over the last few weeks, Wilson Mésilien has been receiving threatening telephone calls.  Early in the afternoon of 26 November, two unknown individuals tried to intercept him as he rode his motorcycle in Boul.  des Industries, North of Port-au-Prince.  Wilson Mésilien was on his way home after attending an appeal court hearing for Fr.  Gérard Jean-Juste, a former prisoner of conscience who is still facing criminal charges. 

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine has not been seen since 12 August, after he had left the company of a delegation of human rights activists visiting Haiti.  The car he was driving was found abandoned near the neighbourhood Delmas 18.  Days before his abduction, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine had announced his intention to stand as Senator in the elections initially scheduled for December 2007 under the banner of the Fanmi Lavalas Party.  There are fears that he may have been abducted by people connected with the former military because of his continued activism in denouncing past human rights violations during the 1991-1994 military government and in gathering signatures to amend the Constitution in order to eliminate all provisions for the existence of a Haitian army. 

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine's abduction was reportedly made to look like a kidnapping for ransom.  His family were contacted by his alleged abductors on 14 August and asked to pay a ransom of US$ 300,000 for his release.  However there has been no further contact from the abductors. 

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is a psychologist and has been involved for several years as a grass-roots community organizer, mainly working with children.  During the last presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, he was appointed General Coordinator of the National Office on Migration.  He left Haiti into exile during the transitional government and returned in February 2006.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Wilson Mésilien is one of the founding members of Fondasyon Trant Septanm along with Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine.  The Fondasyon was named after the date of the military coup, 30 September 1991 during which President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted.  At least 3,000 persons were killed during the military regime between 1991 -1994.  Ever since its creation in 1996, the Fondasyon members carry out weekly marches in central Port-au-Prince and several other Haitian towns to press for an end to impunity for past abuses and reparation for victims of the 1991-1994 military coup and for the victims of the transitional government of 2004-2006.  The Fondasyon also campaigns for the total abolition of the Haitian army through a reform of the Constitution by gathering signatures during a tour of a photo-exhibition of victims of past human rights abuses.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in French or your own language:

• expressing concern for the safety of Wilson Mésilien and of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine who has not been seen since 12 August;
• urging the authorities to double their efforts to locate Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine;
• calling for the authorities to ensure Wilson Mésilien's protection in accordance with his wishes;
• calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the “disappearance” of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine and the threats received by Wilson Mésilien, to make the result public and to bring those responsible to justice;
• reminding the authorities that the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders and their right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals.

APPEALS TO:

Minister of Justice and Public Security Monsieur René Magloire Ministre de la Justice et de la Sécurité Publique, 19 Avenue Charles Sumner, Port-au-Prince,
HAITI (W.I.)
Fax: +509 245 0474 (the fax may not be in service at all times but please, keep trying.)
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre/Dear Minister

General Director of the Haiti National Police Mario Andresol Directeur Général de la Police Nationale d'Haïti Grand Quartier Général de la Police
12 rue Oscar Pacot, Port-au-Prince, Haiti (W.I.) Fax: +509 245 7374 Salutation: Monsieur le Directeur Général/Dear Mr Andresol

COPIES TO:
Human rights organization c/o Fondasyon Trant Septanm No.  3, 2ème impasse Lavaud , Boite Postale 19042 Port-au-Prince, Haïti (W.I.)

and to diplomatic representatives of Haiti accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 29 January 2008.

Who is Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is an internationally respected Haitian human rights activist who disappeared on the evening of 12 August 2007 after meeting a US-Canadian human rights delegation in Port-au-Prince. We are acutely aware of the suffering, hardship and heartbreak Lovinsky's disappearance has meant for his family and other loved ones, as well as of the anger and suffering of the community from whose arms this gentle man and leading advocate for the poor has been snatched.

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is a father, a husband, an uncle, a member of an extended family; a soft-spoken man of great compassion with a big heart and a sense of humor. He is also an extraordinary grassroots leader. Lovinsky, as he is generally known, is a co-founder of Fondasyon Trant Septanm (September 30th Foundation), an organization founded by family members and others concerned about the victims of the 1991 coup, the first against President Aristide; the organization's name is the date of that coup. Similar to the work of internationally renowned Mothers of the Disappeared in Central and South America, the September 30th Foundation for over a decade held weekly vigils demanding justice for victims of human rights violations and the release of political prisoners.

Lovinsky was the co-founder of Fondasyon Kore Timoun Yo (Foundation for the Support of Children) for young street children in Port-au-Prince, FAM (Foyer pour Adolescentes Mères), a center for teenage mothers, and Map Viv ("I Live"), a program designed to give medical and psychological aid to the victims of the 1991coup. His present community-based human rights organization Fondasyon Trant Septanm grew out of the work of those earlier efforts. He is part of the Lavalas movement and a member of the Lavalas Party, and was a potential candidate for the Haitian Senate.    

Lovinsky lived in Washington DC during the turmoil and violence that followed the removal of President Aristide in 2004. During that time he continued his work as an advocate for Haiti's poverty-stricken majority, including gathering support of a wide network of organizations and individuals in the US, meeting with members of Congress, speaking at human rights forums in Boston, Los Angeles and elsewhere in the US as well as in Brazil, Canada and Venezuela. A month after he returned to Haiti, Lovinsky was instrumental in bringing together a delegation that included journalists and others from Guyana, Barbados and the United States to attend the May 2006 Inauguration of President René Préval.

Those of us who were part of that delegation were struck by the welcome Lovinsky received from grassroots Haitians as they greeted him publicly for the first time since his return. At a community-based event to mark the inauguration of President Préval, he was mobbed as a returning hero, a man who was clearly respected, loved and had been missed by the thousands who had gathered hopeful for a new day in Haiti. The mutual respect and love between him and other grassroots women and men was also evident in a later meeting with women from Cité Soleil most of whom were either former political prisoners or the mothers, wives and other relatives of political prisoners, many carrying photographs of their tortured children and husbands. 

As the first Black republic, Haiti has always held a special place in the heart of those of us in the Caribbean region and to oppressed peoples throughout the world.  Haiti led the way for the emancipation of those of us enslaved; provided refuge for Simon Bolivar, the liberator of Latin America, and sent troops to fight alongside Bolivar.  The Haitian Revolution also opened the way for the Louisiana Purchase in the United States through its defeat of Napoleon's forces.

But instead of being celebrated for these important achievements, the Haitian people have paid a heavy price for winning emancipation, a price which helps explain their present suffering and their having still to struggle for human and economic rights while doing the wrenching work of day-to-day survival in what has been named the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. 

We all owe a great debt to the Haitian people. Their spirited and principled determination, their refusal to bend to the powerful forces which have tried to keep them down, has been and continues to be an inspiration throughout the world but especially to those of us who defend human rights and dignity in the Caribbean region. Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine personifies the Haitian determination which has refused to submit despite all the odds. He has refused careerism and opportunism and continues to stand with the popular movement.  He has earned the solidarity of the whole of the wider Caribbean Community and around the world who struggle for justice and freedom in our region. A man of Haiti, he is a part of us wherever we are and wherever there is injustice around the world.

Andaiye, Guyana: Red Thread, Guyana and Women of Color in the Global Women's Strike

Margaret Prescod, Barbados/Los Angeles, California: journalist and Women of Color in the Global Women's Strike