Documentary Reveals

Heroisim of Independent

Haitian Journalists

Black and Cuba cinematographer, Ashley Panzera, is currently in Haiti working on Noise Runs, the forthcoming documentary about a team of young, Haitian journalists who spark social change in the tent camps of Port-au-Prince as they produce a radical Kreyol-language newspaper.

In Haiti, 90% of the press is controlled by the wealthy elite. It is written in French. Most Haitians speak Kreyol.

In the aftermath of the earthquake of 2010, a group of childhood friends reunited in Haiti to found Bri Kouri Nouvél Gaye (Noise Travels, News Spreads), a free, Kreyol-language newspaper focused on democratizing information in the tent camps of Port-au-Prince.

Noise Runs follows this team of radical citizen journalists as they develop, print and distribute one edition of the paper. Meanwhile, a group of readers awaits the latest edition, living daily realities of life in the camps: broken promises for reconstruction, a brutal “peace-keeping” force, the persistent threat of cholera and eviction, and only one link to information about the real forces at work behind it all.

One reality the hundreds of families living in camps for internally displaced people is harassment and intimidation.  They are at imminent risk of forced eviction.  The subjects at Bri Kouri report the story here.

On May 27, Amnesty International delegates received assurances from a representative of the alleged landowner that no one would be forcibly evicted.  However, Amnesty will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that residents do not receive further threats of forced eviction or violence, and they will continue to call upon Haitian authorities to ensure that camp residents have access to durable solutions, including adequate housing and access to services.  You can help keep the pressure on by signing this letter to Haitian authorities inviting them to stand for the rights of the residents. You can also help by and spreading the word, staying in touch on Facebook and Twitter, and joining the conversation on Twitter at #noevictions.

Unfortunately, cases of forced eviction like this are not uncommon.  There are many families at risk in many camps. Stay in touch with us to get updates on how to take action.

To learn more about Bri Kouri Nouvel Gaye, you can check out Let Haiti Live, a comprehensive program for Haiti working to strengthen the independence and self-determination of the Haitian people. Learn about their partnership with Bri Kouri, read on-the-ground reports from the Bri Kouri team, and find out how you can support their work.  You can also find them on Facebook.