Two years ago, the Dominican Republic introduced a law known as TC 168/13 which has retroactively stripped thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent of their Dominican citizenship. The law denationalizes Haitian-ancestry Dominicans born after 1929. Now, thousands of Dominicans who have never been to Haiti face deportation starting on Jun. 15.

In recent months, encouraged by the new law, mobs of racist right-wing Dominican nationalists have abused, attacked, lynched, and killed Haitians and Haitian-ancestry Dominicans.

Many Dominicans deny their African roots, saying their darker complexion comes from ancestors among the Tainos, the Native Americans who populated the island before Columbus’ arrival. This is all part of an anti-Haitian campaign and ideology, championed by Dominican dictators like Rafael Trujillo and Joaquin Balaguer, who committed atrocities against both Dominicans and Haitians.

To protest the racist law and attacks as well as the looming deportations, a coalition of Haitian and Dominican groups and activists will demonstrate in front of the Dominican Consulate in New York at 1501 Broadway (corner of 43^rd Street) on Mon., Jun. 15 at 4:30 p.m.

The organizers see the action as an extension of the “Black Lives Matter” movement now sweeping the U.S.. The calls of the demonstration are to 1) End the law TC 168/13 - No Human Being is Illegal and 2) End Anti-Haitianism - Black Lives Matter.

Dominicans and Haitians have more in common with each other than with the racists!