Ayanna Pressley: “This weekend in my district, the Massachusetts Seventh, community members came together to celebrate Haitian…”

“This weekend in my district, the Massachusetts Seventh, community members came together to celebrate Haitian Independence Day. There was much soup joumou, freedom soup, that was consumed. On January 1, 1804, Haiti became the first free Black republic, declaring independence for all people from colonial rule and enslavement. This weekend also marks 15 years since a devastating earthquake killed thousands and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes on the island. These anniversaries encapsulate the values of the Haitian people: resistance and resilience. The Republic of Haiti continues to experience heightened violence and political instability, which is why, as co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus, I continue to advocate for humanitarian aid to our ally, TPS for migrants, strategic trade partnerships for economic prosperity, and an end to deportations to Haiti. Even with just a few days remaining in the Biden-Harris administration, we must prioritize stability for Haitians on the island and in the United States. ____________________”