Here we’ve compiled suggestions for how you and your congregation can take action to support Haiti. These activities have been designed for congregations but can also be done by individuals.
We also urge that you research the Facebook and organizational websites of local Haitian community organizations, cultural centers, and churches in your city. When you reach out, make sure to ask what they need and listen to their ideas before making your own proposals. In whatever ways you choose to take action, we thank you!
- Donate to Organizations that Support the Haitian Grassroots to Lead the Recovery Efforts
Find a list of well-vetted Haitian grassroots organizations that can accept donations, and international organizations that fund the Haitian grassroots, at http://www.ijdh.org/hurricane-matthew-relief/
- Send a “Selfie of Solidarity”
Show solidarity with the people of Haiti by sharing a message of support in Haitian Creole. Make your own sign using the language below or download a pre-made version at http://www.uusc.org/solidarity-selfie, then take a selfie or group photo while holding the message.
Ou pa pou kont ou! (You are not alone!) Nou sipòte ou! (We support you.)
Send the photos to mobilization@uusc.org by Friday, November 4, 2016. We’ll compile all the images we receive and send them to our partners on the ground in Haiti. Please include your full name, city, state, and, if applicable, the name of your congregation or organization so we can share that information.
- Coordinate Tabling Activities at Your Church
Set up a table at coffee hour and if possible, bring a computer or tablet for people to use for signing onto the online action to prevent deportations to Haiti. If you don’t have a tablet or laptop, print copies of the link to hand out (or use the bulletin insert) so people can sign on to the letter at home:
- Sign your name to the action at http://www.uusc.org/stophaitiandeportation
- Provide direct comment to ICE. Share the ICE comment line number, 202-282-8000, and ask supporters to call and urge officials to change U.S. policy. They can use this script when they call:
“I’m from [City, State, Congregation/Community,] and as a person of faith, I urge Secretary Johnson to immediately grant humanitarian parole to Haitians entering the United States and stop the inhumane and unjust detention of Haitians already in the U.S. Enduring dangerous conditions in Haiti exacerbated by Hurricane Matthew’s devastation make it unsafe for anyone to be deported to Haiti.
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) should be re-designated to include all Haitians.
- Haitians already paroled into the United States should be re-paroled.
- The Haitian family reunification program should be expanded to ensure family unity.”
- Write a Letter to the Editor
Send a message to your local newspaper to raise awareness of the issue in your community. Keep your letter short; aim for no more than 150 words. Many newspapers have their own strict word limits; you can usually find this information on their website. You can also learn about their preferences by calling the newsroom directly.
In order to be considered for publication, you must make specific reference to a recent article in the newspaper about Haiti. We’ve provided some sample language below, but letters that are personalized are often the most successful.
SAMPLE LANGUAGE
Dear Editor: In response to the recent article about the impact of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti [title and date here], it is important for us to realize that there is another, man-made, disaster unfolding for Haitians, and it is happening in the United States. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security slammed the door shut for Haitians seeking to migrate to the United States. Individuals and families who have already attempted to come to the United States are now locked away in detention and many who have recently emigrated are also at risk of being deported to a country that is already struggling to recover from the hurricane. As a person of faith, I believe that we can do better as a nation to show compassion and hospitality at a time of great need. Surely we can all recognize the dignity and worth of every Haitian. Name, city, congregation
- Sign up to Volunteer with the UU College of Social Justice
The UU College of Social Justice is in conversation with Haiti partners to determine whether volunteers from the United States can be of use in recovery efforts. As we engage in this discernment, we welcome potential volunteers to fill out this form, so we can begin to create a “skills bank” of those willing and able to assist. Add your name to volunteer at http://www.uusc.org/volunteer-csj.
- Join the Sanctuary Movement to Prevent Deportations
The Sanctuary Movement began in the early 1980s by religious congregations in an effort to provide safe haven for Central American refugees fleeing civil conflict created by United States policy. The congregations provide housing and support to individual and families, sometimes for months, as asylum hearings were delayed or appealed.
If you are already a Sanctuary congregation, this is a time for action! Notify your relevant partner groups and local Haitian organizations that your congregation is willing to offer sanctuary for Haitians at risk of being deported if the need arises.
If your congregation is not part of the Sanctuary Movement, consider taking steps to join. Sanctuary congregations provide a safe haven for immigrants targeted for deportation while they fight for permission to stay. Learn more at http://sanctuary2014.org.