“I live in a time of racism, discrimination, violence and exclusion. My community, the community of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, is the poorest and most vulnerable, subject to the cruelest denial of their rights.”

I live in a time of racism, discrimination, violence and exclusion. My community, the community of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, is the poorest and most vulnerable, subject to the cruelest denial of their rights.

Throughout my life I have worked for human rights in my country, especially for the migrants from the community of Haitian and Dominicans of Haitian descent. From 1976 I began to be troubled by injustices that were committed in my community. At thirteen I was arrested for being the spokesperson for a demonstration in favour of the Haitian sugar workers who lived in my batey (sugar workers’ company town ), since then I have put into practice my commitment to work for respect and dignity for humankind.

Sonia Pierre, “Testimony,” Frontline Defenders (November 2007)

She envisioned a world where light and dignity would replace the deepest injustices perpetrated on the most vulnerable populations. She amplified the voices of those no one could hear and that governments crushed into silence. Sonia could not tolerate the silence in the midst of such unattended suffering. Her fierce leadership, her dedication to protecting the human rights of women and her visionary tenacity will leave a hole in our stratosphere.

Taïna Bien-Aimé quoted in Edwidge Danticat, “Sonia Pierre leaves behind legacy of activism for Haitians in the Dominican Republic,” The Miami Herald (6 December 2011)
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6 Comments

  1. Posted April 7, 2012 at 1:03 am | Permalink

    “My community, the community of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, is the poorest and most vulnerable…” http://t.co/s4Eg4CR4

  2. Posted April 7, 2012 at 9:52 am | Permalink

    “My community, the community of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, is..most vulnerable…” http://t.co/QnakDO5D v @public_archive

  3. Posted April 7, 2012 at 1:23 pm | Permalink

    Sonia Pierre, Dominican-Haitian activist http://t.co/S3lFTual #Haiti #Dominicana

  4. Posted April 7, 2012 at 9:54 pm | Permalink

    Testimony of Sonia Pierre: http://t.co/s4Eg4CR4 #haiti #dominicanrepublic

  5. Posted April 8, 2012 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    Testimony of Sonia Pierre: http://t.co/s4Eg4CR4 #dominicanrepublic #haiti

  6. Posted May 26, 2012 at 4:56 am | Permalink

    Sonia Pierre on Haiti and the Dominican Republic: http://t.co/s4Ebx2Qa

2 Trackbacks

  • By Haiti, Antihaitianismo, and the Dominican Republic on October 7, 2013 at 9:04 am

    […] the decision. One can only hope these protests spread. The late Dominican-Haitian activist Sonia Pierre once stated, “My community, the community of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, is the […]

  • […] the decision. One can only hope these protests spread. The late Dominican-Haitian activist Sonia Pierre once stated, “My community, the community of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, is […]

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