Background Briefing: July 7, 2021

On By gram

 

Haiti’s Corrupt and Illegitimate President Assassinated

We begin with the assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moise who was gunned down along with his wife who was wounded in his residence by a hit team apparently posing as DEA agents. Joining us to discuss the volatile situation in Haiti is Haitan-born Alex Dupuy, Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Wesleyan University and author of The Prophet and Power: Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the International Community, and Haiti and Haiti: From Revolutionary Slaves to Powerless Citizens whose latest book is Rethinking the Haitian Revolution: Slavery, Independence and the Struggle For Recognition. We discuss how Moise was both increasingly authoritarian and increasingly unpopular having overstayed his welcome after his term had expired in February along with having purged the Supreme Court and proposed a referendum that would keep him in power until 2032. Yet Moise had support from the OAS and Trump liked him because he was a strongman thug and the State Department continued to support him in spite of worsening economic and security conditions in the country.

 

How Gangs and a New Corrupt Elite Have Made Haiti Unlivable

Then we look further into the turmoil in Haiti and speak with a long-time observer of Haiti, Amy Wilentz, an award-winning writer of The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier and The Rainy Season: Haiti Then – and Now whose latest book is Farewell Fred Voodoo: A Letter From Haiti. She joins us to discuss her article at The Nation published just one day before the assassination, “Haiti Has Been Abandoned – by the Media, the U.S., and the World” and how gangs and a new corrupt elite have made the country unlivable for the already desperately poor Haitians.

 

Christians Against Christian Nationalism Join the Fight Against White Supremacist Heresy

Then finally we speak with Amanda Tyler, the Executive Director of Christians Against Christian Nationalism about a religious movement underway in the country that was propelled by the January 6 storming of the Capitol in which Christian symbols were mixed with white supremacist signs and Confederate flags. She joins us to discuss a new curriculum launched on July 6 to help Christian leaders discuss with fellow believers the heresy and dangers of Christian nationalism.