Nearly 60 Faith-Based Organizations Tell Biden Administration: “Ukraine Isn’t the Only Nation in Need of Our Compassion”

Media Contact:

Michael Givens

Director of Strategic Communications

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Phone: +1-857-540-0617

Email: mgivens@uusc.org

Tradiksyon kreyl anba aCambridge, MA-As human rights advocates and activists observe the United States’ questionable allegiance to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, a group of nearly 60 faith-based organizations have come together to demand the United States government re-commit to a strong democracy in Haiti. Most importantly, these organizations are asking that the United States support the Montana Accord, a collaborative agreement among Haitian civil society organizations establishing a clear and equitable path to constitutional leadership in Haiti.

The nation of Haiti is experiencing a political crisis rife with violence, corruption, and the displacement of thousands of people. In the wake of the assassination of former President Jovenel Mose in July 2021 and a deadly and destructive earthquake in August, people of faith and conscience are calling on the U.S. government to help re-stabilize Haiti by respecting its constitutional democracy. Prime Minister Ariel Henry-allegedly involved in Mose’s murder-has spent the last eight months attempting to keep himself in office, even going so far as to ignore demands that he step down on the last day of his tenure on February 7 and resisting pleas that he allow a transitional government to oversee the nation until elections can be held.

As Henry becomes increasingly despotic and attempts to keep himself in power, the United States enthusiastically supports his leadership and comes dangerously close to endorsing an unconstitutional power play. In response, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) authored and shared a powerful letter to key members of the U.S. State Department and National Security Council to acknowledge, respect, and support the Montana-PEN Accord. Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, Lead Executive Officer and President of UUSC, issued the following statement:

“The Montana-PEN Accord is a ‘ground-up’ solution developed by the The Commission for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis, a powerful group of civil Haitian civil society organizations offering a plan for the nation that reflects and respects the will of Haiti’s people. Now is not the time for political posturing or superficial platitudes. The United States is well within its rights to support a process that is rooted in Haiti’s constitution rather than the agenda of a career politician looking to enshrine himself in the country’s highest office. As the world sends its compassion, prayers, and well wishes to Ukraine, we cannot forget that 5,800 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean is a nation facing just as much violence, uncertainty, and instability.

“UUSC is proud to support the Commission and join with other faith organizations and leaders in calling for the Biden administration to listen to the people fighting for their nation and their democracy.”

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The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is a human rights and solidarity organization founded as a rescue mission in 1940 during the Holocaust. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and with a membership of more than 35,000 supporters across the United States, UUSC’s programs focus on the issues of climate and disaster justice, migrant justice, and international justice and accountability.

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Pou Piblikasyon Imedya: 10 Mas 2022

Kontak Medya:

Michael Givens

Direkt Kominikasyon Estratejik

Komite Svis Inite Inivsl

Telefn: +1-857-540-0617

Iml: mgivens@uusc.org

Prske 60 ganizasyon konfesyonl di administrasyon Biden nan, “Ikrn se pa sl nasyon ki bezwen konpasyon”

Etazini gen yon “devwa moral” pou asire pwoteksyon demokrasi konstitisyonl Ayiti

Cambridge, MA- Pandan ke defans dwamoun ak aktivis obsve fidelite Lzetazini anv Premye Minis ayisyen an, Ariel Henry, yon gwoup prske 60 ganizasyon konfesyonl reyini ansanm pou mande gouvnman Etazini an repran angajman pou yon demokrasi solid ann Ayiti.Sa ki pi enptan, ganizasyon sa yo ap mande pou Etazini sipte Ak Montana nan, yon ak ki baze sou kolaborasyon ant ganizasyon nan sosyete sivil ayisyen an epi ki tabli yon chemen kl ak ekitab anv yon lidchip konstitisyonl ann Ayiti.

Peyi dayiti ap sibi yon kriz politik ki chaje ak vyolans, koripsyon, ak deplasman plizy milye moun. Nan kad asasina ansyen Prezidan Jovenel Mose an Jiy 2021 an ak yon tranblemannt ki te f anpil dega nan mwa dawou a, kominote moun ki kwayan, ki gen lafwa ak konsyans ap mande gouvnman ameriken an pou ede retabli estabilite Ayiti ak resp pou demokrasi konstitisyonl li an. Premye Minis Ariel Henry-ki swadizan enplike nan asasina Jovnl Mose la-pase uit mwaki sot pase yo ap eseye kenbe pouvwa a, li menm inyore revandikasyon ke li demisyone dnye jou manda l la ki te 7 fevriye a epi refize demann ke li pmt yon gouvnman transzisyon dirije nasyon an jiskaske eleksyon ka ft.

Henry ap vin de pli zan pli despotik pandan l ap eseye kenbe tt li sou pouvwa a, Etazini sipte lidchip li ak antouzyasm epi li menm ta sanble ap pre andose yon jwt pouvwa enkonstitisyonl. An repons, Komite Svis Inite Inivsl (UUSC) la te ekri epi pataje yon lt pwisan bay manm kle Depatman Deta Ameriken an ak Konsy Sekirite Nasyonal la pou rekont, respekte ak sipte Ak Montana-PEN nan. Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, Ofisye Egzekitif prensipal ak Prezidan UUSC a, te pibliye deklarasyon sa a:

“Ak Montana-PEN a se yon solisyon ‘debaz’ ki devlope pa Komisyon pou yon solisyon ayisyen pou kriz la, yon gwoup pwisan de ganizasyon sosyete sivil ayisyen an, ki ofri yon plan pou nasyon an, ki reflete ak respekte volonte pp Ayisyen an. Kounye a se pa moman pou politik devan dy oswa pawl san fon. Etazini gen km devwa pou li sipte yon pwosesis ki anrasinen nan konstitisyon Ayisyen an olye de ajanda yon politisyen de kary k ap eseye kenbe pouvwa a. Pandan monn nan ap voye konpasyon li, lapriy, ak bon sw bay Ikrn, nou pa ka bliye ke 10 mil kilomt lt b lanm Atlantik la gen yon nasyon ki f fas a menm jan de vyolans, enstitid, ak enstabilite a.

UUSC fy pou l sipte Komisyon an ansanm ak lt ganizasyon ak lid relijye pou l mande administrasyon Biden nan pou l koute moun k ap goumen pou nasyon yo ak pou demokrasi.”

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Komite Svis Inite Inivsl (UUSC) la se yon ganizasyon dwa moun ak solidarite ki te fonde km yon misyon sekou an 1940 pandan Oloks la. Li baze nan Cambridge, Massachusetts, epi gen plis pase 35,000 manm ak anpil sipt atrav peyi Etazini, pwogram UUSC yo konsantre sou pwoblm klimatik ak jistis nan sitiyasyon dezas, jistis pou migran, ak jistis entnasyonal ak responsabilize moun ki koupab de enjistis.

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