Dominican Republic: Police Put Down Anti-Racism Protest

By teleSUR

15 August 20

At least one million Haitians live in the country, most in irregular conditions. They survive in informal workplaces and live in makeshift domiciles.

ominican Republic's Santo Domingo conservative organizations and police Tuesday confronted anti-racism activists who claimed justice for George Floyd in a demonstration.

"Those nationalists came and threw themselves at us and the police, instead of taking the attitude of protecting us, what they did was to stop us,” said Reconocido (recognized) non-governmental organization leader Ana Maria Belique.

Reconocido representatives convoked a demonstration called “A flower for Floyd” to denounce systemic racism. The NGO advocates for Haitian-descendant’s rights due to the discrimination they face in the Dominican Republic.

The Old Dominican Order (AOD), an ultra-nationalist organization, confronted Reconocido’s members. The far-rightist group qualified the demonstration as terroristm and encouraged their social media followers to "stand up against the Haitian invader."

According to local news media, AOD’s members violently confronted Reconocido’s demonstrators. Anti-riot police forces detained the activists and snatched posters and flowers from them.

"Here the victims of Haitian racism are the Dominicans. Here there is a conflict of two countries, two peoples, two cultures, two states, that is why we defend our country and we defend our rights against illegal foreigners who come to our land,” said Robert Cabral, an AOD member.

Belique stated that Reconocido pursues social equality for Haitians residents in the Dominican Republic, who face racism and discrimination based on their nationality. At least one million Haitians live in the country, most in irregular conditions. They survive in informal workplaces and live in makeshift domiciles.

As of Wednesday morning, Saint Dominic’s Health authorities reported 20,415 COVID-19 cases, 544 deaths, and 12,208 recoveries from the virus.