Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts Reception Celebrating Haitian Heritage

August 13, 2024

Edu Hermelyn: All right, everyone. You ready to party? Sak Pase, everyone! Come on, let's get some energy. Sak pase tout le monde? I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge a few of the mayor's top team members. I have Lovely Paulemon. Lovely, raise your hand and give a shout out to the choir. Mayor's Office of [Immigrant] Affairs. And we have the one and only Lamona Worrell, the Caribbean liaison for the mayor. Let's give her a round of applause, please. 

Also have a few people out here. I have [Mio Muños and Waleed.] How are you? Thank you so much for your support. Once again, my name is Edu Hermelyn. I'd like to thank all of you for coming to our second Haitian cultural event here at Gracie Mansion. Under the leadership of Mayor Eric Adams, we have never had our own cultural day. But under his administration, we've had two Haitian cultural events. Let's give him a shout out. 

No other mayor has given the recognition to all of these different cultures under their administration. He has had more cultural events under his administration than any other mayor. So let's give him the recognition that he's due. Let's give a round of applause to Mayor Adams, please. 

As we all know, he is not a new friend, but an old friend. He has worked with our communities for decades. He has been committed to us and to every diverse group in New York City. He's been committed to minority business enterprises and giving them contracts, giving us the opportunity to work under his administration to empower people. He is truly a progressive. He is truly a person of equity. Let's take this opportunity to let me introduce you to our beloved Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Love it, love it, love it, love it to my Haitian brothers and sisters, Sak Pase. What a body of people when you think about it and reflect on the fact that New York City is the Port-au-Prince of America. We have the largest Haitian population in New York City in America is right here. Right here. 

And many people know your effectiveness and relationship based on what you do here in the city, but I know it based on my travels to Haiti. Based on watching the resiliency and the strength and the courage of the people. And I say to folks all the time when they talk about things that happens throughout the region and throughout the entire globe, what should we be doing for international relationships globally? And they list off a series of countries, but they always seem to forget about Haiti. I say what about Haiti? What about Haiti? What are we going to do to give Haiti the support that they deserve right here in our hemisphere? 

You are still paying the price for the strength and courage of Toussaint Louverture because of his unwillingness to bend and surrender to European enslavement because he stood up. People are still attempting to hold you accountable for it. But let me tell you something. He gave me my strength that no matter what I went through when I saw the power and how he defeated the French, I said we could defeat anything if we only believe in ourselves and believe in our liberation. That's who you represent and you should be so proud as a country and what you are doing here in New York City. And when you look around at some of the great leaders, not only what they do in his family, but also his wonderful wife. She is the chair of the borough, the county leader in the largest borough in the country is of Haitian origin. You need to reflect on that. 

And then when you look at my brother, my brother, where's Jacques Jiha? Jacques Jiha. Jacques is the budget director of over $111 billion in the most important city in our country. That is his role. So when you see him, you should see yourselves and you should see where you are in healthcare and education and small business and building up our city and our country in a real way. And the pathway to ensuring that we have the first woman of color to be the president of the United States is through the Haitian community. You know how to mobilize. You know how to organize. You know how to get folks in the street and make sure that we can pull the vote together. Now we got to do it together. 

I am so clear. When I stood with Reverend Sharpton a few months ago with other leaders calling our federal government to take a closer look into supporting Haiti, we knew we had to get it right. Jacques made sure that we allocated over $6.5 million to the Haitian relief effort as we gave support to those who arrived here in the country. We know what this country, this community means to us as a country and what you stand for. And we know that you are over 650,000 strong. When you add your number to other emerging groups, you realize how much power you actually have to determine who's the next citywide elected, who your local electeds, who is the national leaders and who could be the next president of the United States. You are so important to us. 

And I know that. It took 110 mayors before you had your own cultural event. You now grace us here on Gracie Mansion by celebrating your rich heritage. Not only that, look at the powerful law enforcement presence you have. Brothers and sisters from HALEFO that's here, the police officers and what they represent and the strength of that organization. This is an important moment for us. That's why we wanted you here today. And we have many events and it rains and it does all sorts of things. But whenever you came here, you do that little magic that nobody knows about to make sure that you have the best weather that one can present to make it happen. You know, that's that magic. 

When I was 13 points behind in the poll and nobody thought I could be mayor, I went into Little Haiti and y'all did that little thing. And all of a sudden, I went from 13 points, I went from it's not possible till it's possible. I went from unknown to known. I went from not being able to be to be. So all I know is I want you to go back and do that little magic, do that little thing that you know how to do. And you know what I'm talking about. 

But tonight, in all seriousness, this is the greatest country on the globe, folks. And we have to, we have to get serious about Haiti and this country. You know, as I was backstage speaking to the consul general and the ambassador, how are we allowing this to happen to Haiti? Right here, right here, our neighbor. And as soon as the State Department tells me I'm capable to do it, I'm going to travel to Haiti. I'm going to show my support. Haiti has given us so much. And this, those of you who are part of the Haitian diaspora, you've come here. 

Just go back, go back a few years ago. The Haitian Nurses Association was in our hospitals. The Haitian Doctors Association was dealing with the healthcare crisis. You kept your small businesses open. You didn't shelter in place. You helped people to know their place. You were there to provide for this city. And I say to all of my immigrant groups and population, people often look down on those who come here to pursue the American Dream, and they want to say, we all came from somewhere. So whenever someone tells you to go back to where you came from, tell them you will when they go back to where they came from. Because everybody came from somewhere. 

And you are great to this country. I don't care if it's Ecuador, I don't care if it's the DR, I don't care if it's from South, Central America, it's from Europe. This country needs the diversity, the ideas, the spirit, the energy, the food, the dance, the culture, the expertise. This is what makes us great. And as the mayor of this city, these gates that historically have locked out historical groups from coming in here, not while I'm mayor, this is a place where we all have a right to be. Because when you walk into a store and buy that loaf of bread, no one asks you your documentation when they take out those taxes. No one asks you your place of birth when they tell you you are required to pay for the goods and services of this city. You have a right to get everything the city has to offer because you earned the right to do so. 

And so as the mayor of the City of New York, Mayor Dinkins two, I am here to tell you, thank you for what you do and continue to lift up our city and our country. Be proud, Haitian people, because you have a lot to be proud for. Thank you so much.

Hermelyn: Let's give another shout out to the mayor, please. Because you know we got that special magic. And we're going to need that special magic next year again when he becomes, when he runs second, when he becomes the first Black mayor to win re-election for New York City. I want to give this opportunity, but I want to introduce you to our first honoree. This is a serious brother. Second Court of New York State Court of Appeals, the Honorable Raymond Lohier. Raymond Lohier, everybody please give him a round of applause, please.

Honorable Judge Raymond Lohier, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: I'm going to be very brief. First of all, I want to thank Mayor Adams for introducing us to magic. It's a wonderful thing. And I also want to congratulate my fellow honorees. Let me just say one thing. 

So today is a very special day for me, not only because of this tremendous, tremendous occasion where we celebrate our Haitian heritage, and it's a beautiful sea of Haitian faces that I see in front of me. But it's also a day when 17 years ago, my father died today. And I was thinking of him as I was listening to you, Mayor Adams, and thinking of how he came to this country as an exile and made a life for himself in the way, in the same way that so many people here, so many of our parents made a life for themselves. And have made this city and this country great. 

It is because of Haitian Americans that we have the city of Chicago. It is because of Haitian Americans that we have a true scholarship of race, because people forget that W.E.B. Du Bois was a Haitian American. It is because of a Haitian American named Stephen Curry that we've got a great three-point shooter and a gold medal for the United States. We are everywhere. We are everything at every level. And I am today so proud, so proud to be a Haitian American. Thank you very much for this honor.

Hermelyn: Thank you. Our second honoree is a sister who's been around for quite some time, who's been instrumental with the migrant population in serving as supervising attorney for the Haitian Response Team for Catholic Charities. Please allow me to introduce you to a fellow committee member, Sandra Dieudonne.

Sandra Dieudonne, Supervising Attorney, Catholic Charities Haitian Response Initiative: Good evening, everyone. I just want to say thank you to everyone for coming out. I want to give a special thank you to my mother and my father, [Cammy and Micheline Dieudonne,] that are here. I love my daughter, Chloe. She's here with me. I just also want to say thank you to a special person. Her name is Stephanie Delia. She was the first person to get me started in immigration law, and she's a Haitian woman. 

And this is so important that Haitian women uplift other Haitian women, and it's important that Haitians uplift other Haitians. And I just want to say thank you to Stephanie for starting me on this path, and I'm here representing Haitians with the Mayor's Office of Immigration Affairs at Catholic Charities. We support all the Haitians that come through that have nowhere else to go. And when they come to Catholic Charities or they come through HALANY, the best bar association of New York, when they come to the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York, we help, we support, and we are here to make a difference. Thank you so much.

Hermelyn: Our third honoree is a young and upcoming brother who happens to be the senior vice president to the largest health care provider in New York City, Mr. Errol Pierre. Let's give him a round of applause, please.

Errol Pierre, Senior Vice President, State Programs, Healthfirst: Bonswa, bonswa. My name is Errol Pierre. I serve as the senior vice president for Healthfirst. Who has heard of Healthfirst? Yeah. We are the largest nonprofit health plan. We put people above profits, and we serve Haitians locally and abroad. So during the pandemic, we help Haitians get their vaccines, we help Haitians get to their doctor's office, and we also close the disparity gaps that exist between Haitians and other people. 

Abroad, we brought supplies to Haiti after earthquakes, after hurricanes. We went to Gonaïves, we went to Okap, we went to Caracol. We went all around giving supplies. So Healthfirst is here to support the Haitian culture. On behalf of our CEO, Pat Wong, I want to say thank you for all the support. If you see us, you'll see a green leaf. Remember, we're here to put your health first. Thank you so much for the honor. And I also want to thank Mayor Adams for showing what Black leadership looks like. We all can be inspired. We all can be inspired. Thank you. Have a great night.

Hermelyn: Our fourth honoree needs no introduction. I'm not sure if any of you have heard of a group called, I think it goes Tabou Combo? The one and only Yves Joseph, “Fanfan.”

Yves “Fanfan” Joseph: Hello, everyone. [Speaks in Haitian Creole.] I want to thank, first and foremost, the mayor of the City of New York, who is such a flamboyant individual. I like seeing him on TV. And thank you for Haitian-American Heritage for this honor. This honor is for my wife, my mother who has passed, and all my friends who are here tonight. I love you all. 

I want you to know that I carry the burden of Haiti upon my shoulder. Wherever I go, whatever song I sing, whatever word I say, I think about Haiti, so I better do it right. I try not to be wrong because Haiti cannot be wrong. And guys, I'm among the finest Haitians in the diaspora, and you guys are great. You guys look good. You guys smell good. This is the best-dressed Caribbean people in the whole world. I love you all. Thank you very much, and thank you for this honor. Thank you. Thank you.

Hermelyn: And our last honoree is a world-renowned visual artist. Ladies, some say he's eye candy, but I just want to give you an opportunity to meet this great visual artist. If you look to my left, your right, his work is displayed. Please allow me to introduce you to Mr. Kervin André.

Kervin André: Ayibobo. I'm a man of few words, so I want to say thank you to the mayor. Thank you for everybody for being here. I want to say thank you to my baby for always supporting me. This message is for Haiti. Haiti, I miss you. Haiti, I love you. Haiti, thank you for always being my inspiration. I will always, always show you as the greatest that you are. We are here because of the sons and daughters of Haiti. We enjoy this freedom because of those people that fought. So we always should be proud of what Haiti has done and continue to do. Ayibobo.

Mayor Adams: We want the ambassador to say a few words. Ambassador?

Antonio Rodrigue, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Haiti to the United Nations: Hello, everyone. Sak Pase. It's a great honor for me to be here this afternoon. This is the first time I take part in this celebration. And I have to thank Mayor Adams for inviting me. I'm the ambassador of Haiti to the United Nations. And I'm there to promote Haiti. And I am here tonight. It's a great honor, I say. 

And I want to thank Mayor Adams for inviting me for this celebration and also the opportunity to meet so many fellow Haitians. I think that's a great, great opportunity for us to get together and to celebrate what we have the most important, the pride, the resilience, and the ingenuity of Haitian people. So thank you. Good celebration. [Speaks in Haitian Creole.] Thank you.