FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

January 5, 2022 

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jeanette.lenoir@mail.house.gov 

c: 202.480.5737

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on the attempt to assassinate Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry during an official event commemorating the Caribbean country’s independence: 

“It is with a heavy heart to learn that over the weekend, as Haiti commemorated its 218th Independence Day, gunmen attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Ariel Henry during an event at a church in the northern city of Gonaïves. As Haiti marks its 218th year of independence, we must remember the spirit of the ancestors who fought to unite all Haitians for the just and successful fight for freedom and human rights. I will continue calling for a productive dialogue and consensus to ensure non-violent progression toward democracy and human rights within Haiti,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.

“The road ahead certainly presents challenges, but the Haitian people deserve a chance at a brighter future; to live free from the constant threat of violence and lawlessness.”

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Yvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Immigration, a Senior Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security.