New York Protest Against Deportation of Haitians From Dominican Republic

Haitian are protesting the denial of citizenship rights in Dominican Republic. Many Haitians were born there but are not granted basic rights., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 25, 2013

Contact: Manuela Arciniegas, 646-924-7187 and Rocio Silverio, 646-249-2497

MEDIA ADVISORY

We Are All Dominican is gathering in solidarity with hundreds of Haitian migrants and Haitian-Dominicans who were recently deported on November 23-24, 2013 without due process from the Dominican Republic.

"VIGIL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS"

NEW YORK, NY — We Are All Dominican will hold a vigil for the 350 women, men and children who were abruptly deported from the southwestern town of Neiba in the Dominican Republic on November 23 and 24, 2013.

Individuals and whole families sought refuge from a lynch mob after accusations of a burglary/murder allegedly said to be carried out by people of Haitian descent. Instead of providing protection, Dominican police turned these individuals over to militarily officers who promptly deported them to Haiti. The youngest person to be deported was a 3-day old, newborn.

The Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Tribunal recently passed a ruling, TC/0168/13, that denies Dominican nationality to an estimated more than quarter million people born in the Dominican Republic of Haitian ancestry.

The ruling, which has stunned the international community, is expected to be applied retroactively and effects individuals born between 1929 and 2010.

The aftermath of the ruling has led to a climate of intimidation and violence, which forces people of Haitian descent to live in fear.

For more info on the topic, see the AP article:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/killings-along-haiti-dr-border-prompt-expulsion

We Are All Dominican is a campaign of the Dominican diaspora and allies to mobilize for an inclusive Dominican national identity and respect for human rights.

WHAT:
Vigil for Human Rights. Individuals will gather in front of the headquarters of the Dominican Republic's ruling party, Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) in Washington Heights.

WHEN:
November 26, 2013 at 7PM

WHERE:
2005 Amsterdam Avenue between 159th and 160th Streets, New York City

WHO:
The Dominican Diaspora and Allies; concerned individuals who are committed to human rights and social justice.


For more information about We Are All Dominican visit: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreAllDominica