Political Quotes

“yesterday, I went to TransAfrica headquarters where its executive director, Randall Robinson, began a hunger strike until discriminatory and summary interdiction of Haitians fleeing the most repressive regime in the Western Hemisphere is ended. A thoughtful if committed leader, Randall has pursued this course only after all else has failed. Our government's timid response to the Governors Island accord has emboldened the neo-Duvalier and former Tonton Macoutes forces. The best evidence that the fleeing Haitians are legitimate refugees is that their boats stopped coming when Aristide was elected and started up again only after he was deposed. The way to end the flight of terrorized refugees is to support the first democratically elected leader in Haiti in 200 years. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, four of us led by Randall Robinson entered the South African Embassy and set in motion protests that helped produce the South African elections scheduled for this month. This time Randall begins his protest alone. We can join him by passing H.R. 4114 to stop the return of Haitians to torture and death and to make the Governors Island accords law.”