Solidarity Comes To BC

It began with a warm 'bonsoir' as people were still making their way into the Whitman Theater to attend 'Gathering in Solidarity' on Thursday. Sponsored by the BC Office of Diversity and Equity in collaboration with the prestigious Golden Key Society, and hosted by Haitian- American Herve Cote and Assemblywoman and spokesperson for The Children's Foundation Rhonda Jacobs, the event was aimed at informing and relaying a message of strength, healing, and courage to the Haitian American community who are grappling with grief, morning and sorrow.

Brooklyn luminaries from the political and religious spectrum voiced their message of support for those who had lost relatives and friends, as well as how the peoples of the Haitian Diaspora could aid in the reconstruction of Haiti.

One of the first speakers was none other that the Brooklyn College President Karen Gould, who spoke of BC's commitment to continue to send as much aid as possible to Haiti. "BC is extending its arms to do everything it can to support its Haitian students and community as we look toward reconstruction." The President concluded her message in Creole, which received a great deal of applause from the audience.

Consul General of Haiti, Felix Augustin, urged the audience to embrace social action to lead to a new way of thinking, where in the Diaspora, we can find a way to build a New Haiti!" he said. "And we should, and must not rest until we get the job done".

There were religious leaders from all denominations and places of worship in Brooklyn, but the most effective speaker was from Father Perry. Upon reaching the stage he was asked by Herve Cote to "please be brief in respect of time" upon which Father Perry stoically replied; "before I heard that, I had intended to" which brought about laughter- but was quickly quieted with his request that all stand for a moment of silence.

Una Clarke, retired Councilwoman also spoke. She was the first woman from the Caribbean to be elected to the NYC council. She urged the audience to be strong and look to the future saying that the peoples of the Caribbean region. She said "[We] are no strangers to adversity and hardships. The people of Haiti are a people made of true strength and courage." And if people try to put Caribbean people's down, or minimize the struggle- Clarke said proudly that she "is in the face- defending their struggles".

Both the National Anthem of America and Haiti were performed. Both were powerful performances- but it was during the Haitian Anthem tears mixed with pride, as the audience joined in a full chorus
Among the luminaries was Mathieu Eugene, councilmen of the 40th district, and the first Haitian-American to be elected to the NYC Council. He said "Haitians of the diaspora are sitting here saying, "what is going on here? We cannot stop natural disaster, but the tragedy is what happened after. We lacked basic infrastructure and materials. Just basic infrastructure. Why were people dying after the quake. Why?" As he paused, the weight of his message carried across the theater. " but instead of sitting with guilt, what are we going to do? To rebuild? All we hear in the press is how Haiti is the poorest county in the Western Hemisphere. We are better than that! We are a strong and intelligent people! How can we rebuild our legacy for our children?"

The Councilman's message lingered long after, as other groups spoke of ways to donate and raise money. Baskets were passed around- prayers in Creole were said, and people sat attentively, doing their best to make sense of a tragedy that seemed to have no explanation.

Robin Redmond was one such speaker, who on behalf of the Flatbush Development Corporation (FDC), asked people to donate just basic materials such as band aids and coats and other materials- which would go to those who were coming over from Haiti to relatives. Redmond advertised the program 'leg for Haiti' in which people donated canes and other essentials to help those who were undergoing surgery.

City Councilman and BC alumni, Jumaane Williams of the 45th district, echoed the theme of rebuilding, but further it, courageously saying "that we cannot rebuild a county that was never built properly to begin with". He encouraged his audience to not let this "slip from the press" and to continue to send aid and support to the hospitals of Haiti.