NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Hundreds gathered for a demonstration in Northwest Miami-Dade in support of the Haitian migrants at the U.S. border.
The demonstration of around 150 people at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday grew quickly to around 200 people by noon.
“We all must condemn this because this is not what the spirit of this country is,” Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime said.
Northwest Seventh Avenue at Little River Drive was shut down in both directions for several hours as demonstrators took to the intersection outside the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services office.
“We are standing here together,” Family Action Network Movement Executive Director Marliene Bastien said. “We are using our collective voices to send a strong message to President Biden to tell him, number one, free the Haitians now! Free the Haitians now!”
Several Miami-Dade Police officers responded to the scene.
The demonstrators gathered to demand better treatment of Haitian migrants, and that they be allowed to stay in the United States.
“We should not accept it. That’s unacceptable,” said Leroy Jones with Circle of Brotherhood. “I’m crying out to every color, not just people of color, I’m talking about the Cuban Americans, the Puerto Rican Americans, all of us should be upset about that.”
According to the Associated Press, thousands have been allowed to stay in the U.S. with instructions to report to an immigration office, despite the Biden administration’s warning that they would immediately be sent back.
People at the demonstration said even if that is true, the images coming from the border of Texas are cruel, disturbing and heartbreaking.
When asked what he would say if he could speak to the president directly, Jones replied, “I’d tell the president to get off his butt and do the right thing. We live in the most powerful country in the world. America can do anything it wants to do. Don’t tell me that we’re that inconsiderate that we can send back to Haiti knowing the conditions they’re living in Haiti.”
When the president was asked about the situation, he responded, “We will get it under control.”
Several protesters at the demonstration said they feel betrayed by the Biden administration.
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