Excelsior

Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Alshawn Rushing

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".

Continued...

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