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More than 100 in Philly protest Dominican deportations

As the United States prepared to celebrate its independence, more than 100 demonstrators, most of whom were Haitian, marched to the Liberty Bell in the name of justice Thursday afternoon.

As the United States prepared to celebrate its independence, more than 100 demonstrators, most of whom were Haitian, marched to the Liberty Bell in the name of justice Thursday afternoon.

Members of the Haitian Coalition of Philadelphia, Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia, Haitian Clergy of Philadelphia, and United Kingdom Youth Ministry marched along Market Street in solidarity with counterparts in New York, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, and Port Au Prince, Haiti.

It was dubbed an international call to justice, after a ruling by the government of the Dominican Republic to deport undocumented immigrants who failed to meet the country's June 17 immigration registration deadline. About 250,000 Dominicans of Haitian descent face deportation. The purpose of the program is to curb illegal immigration from neighboring Haiti. However, descendants of undocumented Haitian migrants after 1929 are also susceptible to deportation.

"Is it OK to take people [whose great-grandparents] came in 1929 and deport them to a country they're not familiar with?" asked Numa St. Louis, cofounder of Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia. "We want to raise our voice collectively to say what's happening there is unjust and immoral."

As the demonstrators marched down Market Street, they chanted: "One island, one blood!" and "L'Union fait la force!" the country's motto, translating as "Unity is strength!"

"The most important thing we can do is to engage our people," said Marc Antoine, cochair of community development for Haitian Professionals. "We want to engage all of these people and write letters to legislature and encourage people to stop buying goods from the Dominican Republic."

Census estimates show there are almost 7,000 Haitian-born Philadelphians and about 10,000 Dominican-born Philadelphians.

"In Philly, we have families and professionals who are contributing citizens in this country," said Antoine. "America has a responsibility."

Joel Leon, 50, immigrated to the United States in 1994 and said that after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the country "cannot absorb 200,000 people."

Many said the ruling is an egregious injustice because the two countries share one island, Hispaniola. "Many years ago, Haitians defended the island," said Haramus Stimphil, who brought her daughter and sister to the rally.

"The most important thing we can do is to engage our people," said Antoine. "We want to engage all of these people and write letters to local legislature and encourage people to stop buying goods from the Dominican Republic."

Angel Ortiz, a former city councilman, says a family member had been planning a wedding in the Dominican Republic and is now reconsidering. He was one of many to take to the megaphone.

"I spoke because I have become very furious at the lack of attention this country was paying to this issue," said Ortiz. "There is a process of ethnic cleansing happening in the Dominican Republic right off our shore, very close to Puerto Rico."

Ortiz said he wants Philadelphia's Dominican and Haitian community to speak out against the ruling. He said video footage he's seen from the Dominican Republic was eerily reminiscent of what happened to the Jewish population in Nazi Germany.

"It's unacceptable, and it's ethnic cleansing that mirrors apartheid," said Antoine. "We need local, national, and international support."

The demonstrators encouraged individuals to boycott and divest from the Dominican Republic to press the government to repeal the ruling.

"This is an attack on humanity; it's not just a Haitian issue," said Antoine. "We want everybody to stand and support humanity." - Sofiya Ballin and Sarai Flores