Latest news with #HaitianFlagDay
Washington Post
11-08-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Haitians found stability in Maryland's poultry plants. It's now in jeopardy.
SALISBURY, Md. — For nearly a decade, the Haitian flag day celebration has shut down Main Street in this changing Eastern Shore city. This May, however, the holiday was marked in a bland parking lot a few blocks away, and the crowd was smaller.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Reading celebrates Haitian and Jewish American heritage
Reading's Haitian community celebrated Haitian Heritage Month with a recent flag raising and other events. Celebrated in May, the observation recognizes the history, culture and contributions of Haiti, the Haitian people and Haitian-Americans. The monthlong observation extends beyond Haitian Flag Day, May 18, and is intended to acknowledge and appreciate the diverse heritage of Haitians and Haitian-Americans. The Reading community's recent celebration was a vibrant commemoration of Haiti's rich history and its significance as the first free black nation in the world, said Alex Civil, organizer of the event. The event at Alvernia University's Francis Hall included a flag raising and reception. Civil said he and others also were honored to celebrate a pre-flag day event at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, where the delegation of those with Haitian heritage received a standing ovation in the House of Representatives. The celebration continued last week when City Council issued a proclamation in honor of the occasion. Civil and other members of the city's Haitian community were present to accept a copy of the proclamation. Council also issued a proclamation in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, also observed in May. The observation recognizes the contributions of Jewish Americans to the U.S. It also celebrates the rich history, culture and achievements of Jewish Americans while acknowledging the hardships they have faced, including antisemitism and persecution. Marcia Goodman Hinnershitz, a former city councilwoman, accepted the proclamation on behalf of Reading's Jewish community.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
This year's Haitian Flag Day festivities didn't happen in Montréal-Nord. Organizers want answers
Residents and workers at a Montréal-Nord community organization are seeking clarity after they say they felt the need to cancel the borough's annual Haitian Flag Day celebration. The event, which has been held in May every year since 2009 in the heart of the borough, was cancelled for the first time last weekend. The organizer, Café-Jeunesse Multiculturel, says it was informed by the borough that police did not want to provide security services, citing safety concerns for the area. But Roberson Berlus, a youth worker with the organization, says nothing has ever gone wrong during the festivities. He added that the free celebration offers various spaces for youth to play, as well as DJ sets, food and shows featuring Haitian artists. Although the event highlights the Haitian flag and culture, Berlus noted that it attracts over 3,000 people from different ethnic communities. Some even travel from other parts of the province, Ontario and the U.S. to attend. "That's really a bad thing for us because, yes, it's Haitian Flag Day, but it's everyone who participates," he said. Without the police presence they had every year prior, organizers decided to not go ahead with the festivities. Ultimately, the group reluctantly opted to cancel. Berlus emphasized that Montreal police are part of the community and should be present on that day, alongside everyone else. "We've been doing that since 2009, nothing ever happened. Why is it dangerous now?" he said. In a statement sent to CBC, Montreal police, known by its French acronym SPVM, said no safety notice had been issued for any sector of Montréal-Nord. The SPVM said it had not received a request from the organization to assign officers to Haitian Flag Day and it is "not up to the SPVM to authorize or cancel an event taking place in the public space." Police added the borough had not made a request neither, something the borough confirmed in a statement of its own to CBC News. "The SPVM has not received a 'request for collaboration' or 'authorization,' simply because neither the borough nor the organization is required to file such a request," wrote borough spokesperson Daniel Bussières. The borough spokesperson stated that, every year, it meets with the local police station to inform officers of upcoming summer events. According to the borough, the station suggested it would be easier to ensure the celebration's safety if it were held in a park rather than on the street. But Bussières said the organization maintained its intention to hold the event on Pascal Street, where it's traditionally been organized. "We agreed to this request. We gave the OK to the organization for street closures and assured them we would provide logistical support," the borough spokesperson wrote. Organizers maintain they were told by the borough that police were not going to provide security for the event. Haitian Flag Day is more than just a public gathering for the borough. It's linked to the memory of Fredy Villanueva, an 18-year-old whose fatal shooting by police during an altercation in 2008 sparked riots in the neighbourhood heightened tensions between the community and police officers. The first Haitian Flag Day celebration in Montréal-Nord took place in the spring following Villanueva's death. Ted Rutland, a Concordia University associate professor who specializes in urban security and policing, described those festivities as a community effort to come together in a difficult moment and to show that there is a lot of love and joy in the neighbourhood. "Montreal is a city that defines itself by its public life, public events, festivals, the way we occupy public space. And here we've got a case where they're saying: 'Montreal North doesn't get to do that,'" said Rutland. Slim Hammami, a co-ordinator with Café-Jeunesse Multiculturel, says the area where the festive gathering usually takes place is very stigmatized and that the community group hosts it for the youth and young adults to show that positive things can emerge from the neighbourhood. Hammami emphasized that the organization has no conflict with the SPVM and the police station, and even said it's "always had a good relationship" with them. "So we didn't quite understand the silence toward us," he said. He said residents and regular attendees have expressed frustration over the cancellation and are still wondering why the gathering was called off. "This festival also helps Montréal-Nord to be seen in a positive light," said Hammami, adding that he hopes Haitian Flag Day will return to the borough next year. "Citizens and young people taking part and getting involved in the festival, that's what they want too."
CBC
25-05-2025
- CBC
This year's Haitian Flag Day festivities didn't happen in Montréal-Nord. Organizers want answers
Social Sharing Residents and workers at a Montréal-Nord community organization are seeking clarity after they say they felt the need to cancel the borough's annual Haitian Flag Day celebration. The event, which has been held in May every year since 2009 in the heart of the borough, was cancelled for the first time last weekend. The organizer, Café-Jeunesse Multiculturel, says it was informed by the borough that police did not want to provide security services, citing safety concerns for the area. But Roberson Berlus, a youth worker with the organization, says nothing has ever gone wrong during the festivities. He added that the free celebration offers various spaces for youth to play, as well as DJ sets, food and shows featuring Haitian artists. Although the event highlights the Haitian flag and culture, Berlus noted that it attracts over 3,000 people from different ethnic communities. Some even travel from other parts of the province, Ontario and the U.S. to attend. "That's really a bad thing for us because, yes, it's Haitian Flag Day, but it's everyone who participates," he said. Without the police presence they had every year prior, organizers decided to not go ahead with the festivities. Ultimately, the group reluctantly opted to cancel. Berlus emphasized that Montreal police are part of the community and should be present on that day, alongside everyone else. "We've been doing that since 2009, nothing ever happened. Why is it dangerous now?" he said. Conflicting messages from police, borough In a statement sent to CBC, Montreal police, known by its French acronym SPVM, said no safety notice had been issued for any sector of Montréal-Nord. The SPVM said it had not received a request from the organization to assign officers to Haitian Flag Day and it is "not up to the SPVM to authorize or cancel an event taking place in the public space." Police added the borough had not made a request neither, something the borough confirmed in a statement of its own to CBC News. "The SPVM has not received a 'request for collaboration' or 'authorization,' simply because neither the borough nor the organization is required to file such a request," wrote borough spokesperson Daniel Bussières. The borough spokesperson stated that, every year, it meets with the local police station to inform officers of upcoming summer events. According to the borough, the station suggested it would be easier to ensure the celebration's safety if it were held in a park rather than on the street. But Bussières said the organization maintained its intention to hold the event on Pascal Street, where it's traditionally been organized. "We agreed to this request. We gave the OK to the organization for street closures and assured them we would provide logistical support," the borough spokesperson wrote. Organizers maintain they were told by the borough that police were not going to provide security for the event. Coming together after killing of 18-year-old boy Haitian Flag Day is more than just a public gathering for the borough. It's linked to the memory of Fredy Villanueva, an 18-year-old whose fatal shooting by police during an altercation in 2008 sparked riots in the neighbourhood heightened tensions between the community and police officers. The first Haitian Flag Day celebration in Montréal-Nord took place in the spring following Villanueva's death. Ted Rutland, a Concordia University associate professor who specializes in urban security and policing, described those festivities as a community effort to come together in a difficult moment and to show that there is a lot of love and joy in the neighbourhood. "Montreal is a city that defines itself by its public life, public events, festivals, the way we occupy public space. And here we've got a case where they're saying: 'Montreal North doesn't get to do that,'" said Rutland. 10 years after deadly police shooting sparked riots in Montreal North, how much has changed? Slim Hammami, a co-ordinator with Café-Jeunesse Multiculturel, says the area where the festive gathering usually takes place is very stigmatized and that the community group hosts it for the youth and young adults to show that positive things can emerge from the neighbourhood. Hammami emphasized that the organization has no conflict with the SPVM and the police station, and even said it's "always had a good relationship" with them. "So we didn't quite understand the silence toward us," he said. He said residents and regular attendees have expressed frustration over the cancellation and are still wondering why the gathering was called off. "This festival also helps Montréal-Nord to be seen in a positive light," said Hammami, adding that he hopes Haitian Flag Day will return to the borough next year.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Event at Binghamton City Hall brings local Haitian-American community together
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Mayor Jared Kraham joined members of the Southern Tier Haitian Association for a flag raising in observance of Haitian Flag Day. This national holiday celebrates the adoption of the Haitian flag in 1803 during the Haitian Revolution. Haitian independence came with the abolition of slavery and a sense of identity, liberty, and pride for its people. The group wore white to symbolize unity and strength as they endured the rain to pause and honor the strength and sacrifice stitched into the flag. Binghamton School Board Member-Elect Jesula Saintus says the day recognizes more than a historic moment, but a time of pride and tradition for the local Haitian community. 'Being Haitian is not just a nationality, it is a spiritual experience. We are culture, we are soul, we are the flavor in the food, the fire in the drums, the rhythm in the feet, the strength in the struggle, and the light in the darkest hour,' said Saintus. Haiti was the first Latin-American country to gain independence and is also said to be the world's first Black Republic. The flag's colors come from the French flag, but with the white taken out to symbolize Haiti's decolonization. Neuralink patient explains first year of life with brain chip Tee-rific golf legend is coming to 18th annual Dick's Sporting Goods Open Event at Binghamton City Hall brings local Haitian-American community together Justice Department, Boeing reach deal to avoid prosecution over 737 Max crashes Infant pajamas sold at Macy's recalled Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
