After protests in several other states and cities, it was Massachusetts’ turn to voice outrage against racist attacks from Donald Trump, Senator J.D. Vance, and their allies targeting Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.
Hundreds of people gathered in Downtown Boston on Tuesday, calling for solidarity, justice, and respect for the Haitian community.
The rally, organized by Haitian community leaders, was a powerful display of unity against growing xenophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric in the U.S. Protesters held signs and chanted to decry inflammatory remarks made by Vance and Trump, who falsely accused Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, of eating the city residents’ pets.
The rally began at noon at Park Street, under the Embrace monument of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Haitian community leaders were joined by their allies, including several representatives from advocacy groups, in an event led by City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, IFSI Executive Director Gerald Gabeau, True Alliance Center President Pastor Dieufort Fleurissaint, and other prominent members of the Haitian community in Boston.
Ruthzee Louijeune, the first Haitian American elected as a Boston City Councilor At-Large and now City Council President, addressed the broader political climate fueling the recent wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. “When they come for one of us, they come for all of us,” she said, expressing solidarity with other marginalized communities, including Asian, Muslim, and Jewish populations. “We defeat hate together.” Louijeune emphasized the importance of holding elected officials accountable. “I cannot believe that someone who used to occupy the highest seat in the land is spreading these vicious, xenophobic lies,” she stated. “But we must show them who we are.”
Louijeune’s call to action was echoed by many labor leaders and activists at the rally. She recognized the support of local unions like 32BJ SEIU, Local 26, and 1199SEIU, which have significant Haitian membership. “Our labor partners are here because they know that when they come for one of us, they come for all of us,” Louijeune affirmed. “We will stand together, stronger, and defeat these lies and this hate.”
Former Massachusetts State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, who is Haitian American, also participated in the rally. “We are Haitian. I am Haitian American, but today, the Irish are Haitian, the Italians are Haitian, everyone is Haitian,” declared Forry. “We need to stand together and say enough is enough.” Her speech touched on the history of discrimination against Haitians, from the 1980s, when Haitians were wrongly blamed for bringing HIV/AIDS to the U.S. “It was a malicious effort—a white supremacist effort. We need to remember because if we forget, history repeats itself.”
The rally also highlighted the Haitian community’s contributions to the U.S., especially in service and healthcare industries. “We see you, and we thank you,” said former Massachusetts State Representative Marie St. Fleur. She encouraged the community, particularly the youth, to excel. “The best revenge is not anger; the best revenge is success,” she said. “You represent something bigger. When they laugh at you, when they call you names, tell them it’s alright because one day, you’ll be their boss.”
St. Fleur emphasized the vital role of immigrants in sustaining key sectors of the economy. “If you all sat down, everything stands still,” she said. “You are in the service business. This country needs you.” Her message was clear: Haitian immigrants are essential contributors to American society.
The rally was also a moment to mobilize the community for the upcoming elections. “The best revenge is success, and that success begins in November,” St. Fleur said, encouraging voter participation. “We’ve seen this game before, and we’re not falling for it.”
Gerald Gabeau, Executive Director of the Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI), spoke passionately about the Haitian community’s resilience. “Before we begin, let’s remember some key truths about who we are. We are the first Black republic in the world. We did not take our freedom for granted; we fought for it with our blood and sweat, and we will continue to fight,” Gabeau said. “For those spreading falsehoods about us, I urge you to look at history—Haitians have contributed to the greatness of the U.S. and beyond.”
Elizabeth Sweet from the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugees Advocacy Coalition highlighted Haitians’ contributions to U.S. history. “Historically, Haitians have been part of the American story since the Revolutionary War,” Sweet explained. “In modern times, Haitian Americans have enriched so many aspects of American life.”
Heather Yountz, senior immigration attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, invoked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in her remarks: “One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.” Yountz dismantled false claims made by Trump and Vance, pointing out that “the vast majority of Haitians in the U.S. are here legally, with many granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or seeking asylum.” She urged attendees to exercise their right to vote. “You can make a difference this year.”
As the rally concluded, chants of “Respect!” and “Dignity!” echoed through the streets of Boston, delivering a clear message: the Haitian community will not be silenced. They will continue to fight for justice and unity, standing up against hate and racism.
The protest in Boston is part of a broader wave of demonstrations across the U.S., as Haitian Americans and their allies unite to defend immigrant rights and human dignity.
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