Jovenel Moise
US and OAS Must End Support for Haitian Dictatorship
CODEPINK
(February 28, 2021) — Former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse has now officially become a dictator and he’s done it with the support of the US and Organization of American States (OAS). Tens of thousands of Haitians have taken to the streets demanding he step aside — they deserve our solidarity.
Haiti has been under constant pressure for over 200 years, all for the “crime” of freeing themselves from slavery and colonialism. Haiti can’t breathe and we cannot allow the US and OAS to impose yet another dictatorship on our neighbors.
Moïse’s term expired on February 7, but he unilaterally gave himself another year in office. He dissolved Parliament, illegally fired Supreme Court Justices and other officials who opposed him, and jailed opposition figures. The Haitian police have brutally suppressed protesters, including attacking journalists and committing a massacre.
Now Moïse is working with what’s known as the Core Group (the United Nations, OAS, European Union, Brazil, Canada France, Germany, Spain and US) to rewrite Haiti’s constitution. It’s worth noting that the UN trained Haiti’s police forces and also brought cholera that ended up killing 30,000 Haitians. Without this key support from outside powers, the Haitian people would likely have overthrown his corrupt government.
ACTION: Sign the petition calling for the US and OAS to stop interfering in Haiti!
Make Art! Not War!
Join CODEPINK for an online exhibit between March 25-31 to express solidarity with the people in Haiti who are struggling for democracy, justice, and reparations. To participate, please submit artwork — poems, songs, music, videos and other forms of art expressing solidarity with Haiti. All mediums welcome. Videos should be under 7 minutes. Deadline for submission is Sunday, March 21st. Please include the title of work, full name and/ or band name, country, organization (optional), social media handle (optional) to haiti@codepink.org
Special Event March 5: Friday, 8pm ET/ 5pm PT
Haiti: What’s Imperialism Got To Do With It?
Ongoing
CODEPINK is working with dozens of organizations over the coming weeks to denounce US and OAS interference in Haiti. We’ll keep you updated with our actions so you can join in. We definitely want to see you next week at our Haiti solidarity event — details below.
In radical solidarity,
Leonardo, Ciara, Michelle, Teri, Medea and the entire CODEPINK team
THE PETITION: End US and OAS Interference in Haiti!
To: President Biden and Secretary General Almagro,
It is unacceptable that the United States and Organization of American States are supporting Jovenel Moïse in his attempts to grab power in Haiti. As you well know, his term officially expired on February 7, 2021. There is no justification for extending his term by a year.
Moïse has been operating outside of the bounds of the Haitian Constitution for years, including his 2019 dissolution of Parliament, recent firings of Supreme Court justices and persecution of political opponents. Most troubling has been the state violence in response to huge peaceful demonstrations, which has included attacks on journalists, targeted killings of activists and a massacre in a poor neighborhood.
We stand in solidarity with our neighbors in Haiti, and we demand the US and OAS reverse course, denounce Moïse’s attempt to stay in power and call on him to resign.
Furthermore, both the US government and the OAS Secretary General should withdraw their support for the United Nations missions in Haiti, which have exacerbated the suffering of the Haitian people, most infamously by bringing cholera that caused 30,000 deaths.
The US and OAS must respect the sovereignty and self-determination of the Haitian people. Only the Haitian people have the authority and capability to resolve their internal problems and determine their futures.
In solidarity with Haiti.
