Protesters Slam Haiti Relief Effort: “The Aid Is Not Getting Through”

Protesters Slam Haiti Relief Effort: “The Aid is Not Getting Through”
by Jonathan Nack
January 26, 2010

OAKLAND – Outrage over the way in which the U.S. Government has responded to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti led to a street protest in San Francisco Monday night. The rally occurred on Market Street, by the Powell Street BART station, at 6:00pm, with rush hour in full swing.

Pierre LaBossiere, of the Haiti Action Committee, was blunt in his address to the crowd. “Medicine is not getting to the sick. Water is not getting to the thirsty. Food is not getting to the hungry,” said LaBossiere. He said his sources in Haiti telling him that the majority of those in need had still not received aid.

Standing in front of a banner that read, “Respect Haiti; Aid Not Troops; Bring Back Aristide“, LaBossiere expressed gratitude to all the people who given generously, but said that aid isn't getting through to many areas. “The authorities say the roads are impassable, but the people see journalists getting through,” he said.

LaBossiere called on people to flood the White House and their representatives in Congress with messages of outrage that assistance isn't getting to those who need it. He also criticized the U.S.'s priority of deploying Marines, which delayed delivery and distribution humanitarian assistance.

Beyond aid, respect for Haiti must include the restoration of democracy, the return of President Jean Bertrand Aristide (who was deposed in a U.S.-backed coup), and the legalization of Aristide's political party, Famil Lavalas, according to LaBossiere.

The emergency rally was called by the Haiti Action Committee [ http://www.haitisolidarity.net ], which along with other Haiti solidarity groups, has established the Emergency Relief Fund. [ http://www.haitiaction.net/ ] ANSWER Coalition assisted in organizing the rally. [ http://www.actionsf.org ]