As of November, the government of the Dominican Republic had been accused of targeting Black people and incarcerating them as illegals. They were claiming that Haitians were crossing the border illegally and deporting them. From September to November, they deported over 55,000 Haitian immigrants. With the increase of violence from gangs trying to overthrow the government in Haiti, many Haitians have been trying to cross the border in search of a better life.

Even the United States chimed in and told Americans of dark skin to be careful traveling to the Dominican Republic. Stories of Black people being detained at airports and tourist areas until they could prove their status and the country where they originated. There’s also an ultra-nationalist movement targeting Black Dominicans, similar to white-supremacist in America, claiming that “Afro-Dominicans” are descendants of Haitians and don’t belong in the country at all. Back in October, at a peaceful demonstration that explored the truth about Christopher Columbus and what was done to the Tainos and enslaved Africans, the nationalist movement disrupted the event with violence. The most shocking thing to witness in the video of the demonstration is that all the people involved were different shades of brown. You couldn’t tell who was part of which movement.

discrimination