Haitians marched in the streets Monday to protest President Donald Trump. They criticized the U.S. leader as "talking shit" while performing a voodoo ceremony and carrying signs.
The Haitian citizens were protesting Trump's alleged disparaging remarks that Haiti and African nations are "shithole countries." The demonstration temporarily shut down the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince—the capital of Haiti—as more than 1,000 people participated in the rally. Some posters labeled Trump a "shithole president" while others called on Americans to "stop racist hate speech" and noted, "diversity makes us stronger, end discrimination."
The Haitian National Police clashed with protesters, firing multiple rounds of tear gas into the crowd as protesters sought to reach the U.S. Embassy gates. Some demonstrators tried to remove the barriers keeping them from police officers, who were clad in riot gear with helmets, shields and knee pads. Other demonstrators threw rocks at the Haitian police who upheld the barricades.
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti reported there were several protests that combined outside the American compound in Port-au-Prince. People were advised to limit activity around the embassy where protests were known. The U.S. Embassy closed Monday afternoon amid the outcries and is anticipated to reopen on Tuesday.
The initial comment being protested was in a report from The Washington Post, which said Trump called Haiti a "shithole country" as lawmakers joined the president in the Oval Office for a bipartisan discussion on protecting immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and several African countries. "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump reportedly asked.
Trump later tweeted that he "never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country."
Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said “take them out.” Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings - unfortunately, no trust!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018
The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security exacerbated tensions with Haiti by barring people from the Caribbean country from applying for low-skilled working visas due to "high levels of fraud and abuse" and a high rate of Haitians "overstaying the terms" of their visas.
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