COLUMBUS, Ohio — People gathered for the first-ever Haitian Festival at the YMCA in North Columbus on Saturday.
The festival was organized in response to the false information and racism spread about Haitian immigrants, specifically in Springfield, during the election cycle.
“I hope people can take the time to try and understand us and who we are as people and why we are fleeing,” said Sophia Pierrelus.
She was born in Haiti but immigrated to the United States with her family as a teenager. She explained many Haitians have come to the U.S. seeking safety.
“It is because of the situation in our home country, and many Haitians don’t want to be in America or anywhere, they want to be home. Unfortunately because of political instability that has been happening for years, it is worse now and because of economic hardships we are facing, many people are forced to leave their businesses, their home, their family in pursuit of happiness and safety in America,” Pierrelus said.
At the festival, she learned of the neo-Nazi march in the Short North, showing her there is a long way to go to quell hatred and racism.
“We are here, we have been here, years ago there was nothing. Everyone was working the same places, eating at the same restaurants and everything so why are we going back? Why are we trying to start something that was not there before,” she said.
She was hoping for a safe space for people to celebrate Haitian culture and come together in a positive way.
“Now is the time we should unite as one in the community and also know who we are, try and know who we are,” Pierrelus said.