OFFICE
OF COUNCILMEMBER
|
 |
NEW
YORK, NY 10007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Miguelina Zorrilla
July 25, 2005 (646) 210-4233/(917) 521-2616
COUNCILMEMBER MARTÍNEZ AND ADVOCATES CALL FOR PROTECTION
OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF HAITIANS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
New York, NY—Councilmember Miguel Martínez and other elected
officials were joined by advocates to call for an end to xenophobic
violence, en masse deportation without due process, and racial discrimination
against Haitians in the Dominican Republic. Councilmember Miguel Martínez
today introduced a resolution denouncing such discrimination and violence
committed against Haitians and people of Haitian descent living in the
Dominican Republic. “At home here in the United States and in
my native country of the Dominican Republic, I am always proud to lend
my voice to the causes of fair immigration policy, due process and the
protection of worker rights. It is critical that we have solidarity
to support such basic human rights, and this resolution is a vehicle
for the New York City Council to do just that,” says Councilmember
Miguel Martínez (District 10, Washington Heights/Inwood and Marble
Hill).
The resolution states that Haitians and people of Haitian descent represent
a significant minority in the Dominican Republic, with unofficial estimates
indicating that between 400,000 and one million Haitians currently live
in the country. During the months of May and June 2005, there were several
instances of xenophobic acts of violence against Haitians and people
of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic that left several dead,
hundreds injured and thousands of others being deported to Haiti. The
resolution asks that the government of the Dominican Republic adequately
intervene and protect Haitians and people of Haitian descent living
in the Dominican Republic from these recent acts of violence. Recognizing
that there are more than one million Haitians and Dominicans living
in New York City who are concerned about the state of both nations,
the New York City Council is asking that the incidences of violence,
human rights violation and deportations without due process be addressed
within the Dominican Republic as the New York City Council has also
been strong advocates for such principles of fair immigration policy
and protection of human rights within the United States.
“We are advocating for the human rights and worker rights of the
Haitian community in the Dominican Republic; we are essentially advocating
for the defense of our own rights as we also are immigrants and workers,”
said Radhames Rodríguez who is a member of Coalición de
Solidaridad con la Comunidad Haitiana en Republica Dominicana, a coalition
of individuals and organizations that advocate for human rights of Haitian
immigrants in the Dominican Republic.
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