Over 100 Haitian community members and allies held a rally at The Embrace Memorial on the Boston Common on Sept. 24, declaring solidarity with Haitians across the country who have experienced an uptick in hate speech and violent threats since Former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance made dehumanizing statements about Haitian immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio. 

Despite the sobering context for the rally, there was an air of celebration: People waved Haitian and American flags, chanted and marched to live drumming. 

Alce Makendi Henry, a Haitian community member, voiced concerns about safety for Haitians in Boston.

“Today, we have a community where our kids, our children, cannot go to school because when they go to school, their fellows tell them that their parents are eating pets,” said Henry.

David Benoit, a racial justice community advocate for the American Civil Liberties Union, said, “This has been an incredible display of solidarity of togetherness when it comes to the Haitian communities.”

Massachusetts has the third-largest Haitian population in the United States.

“We are far and wide across Massachusetts and all across the nation; we have contributed so much to this country,” said Benoit. 

Andrea Park, director of community-driven advocacy for the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, said, “It’s important for us as Americans and people who are living here, to make sure that we make space for everyone. We are a welcoming community.”

Numerous Boston City Council and state representatives, including Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, also participated.