Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.- Frederick Douglass

In a letter, Noam Chomsky, Cornel West, members of Parliament in Europe, Canada and the Philippines, scholars, journalists and activists from the international communtiy and Haiti urged French president Nicholas Sarkoy (above) to give reparations money back to Haiti. Post earthquake international aid has been given in the millions when billions were promised to the ailing nation.

In the former colony of Haiti the enslaved Africans revolted and gained their independence from the French in 1804, making Haiti the first nation born of enslaved persons and of revolt.

After the revolt France imposed $21.7 billion debt with interest of reparations on Haiti in damages for destroying their property, including their former slaves.

Let’s be clear this request is NOT reparations for slavery, nor is it charity. It’s just legally and morally right.

French newspaper Libération published the letter, calling the debt “patently illegitimate … and illegal”. Well what else were they going to say? “Yes, we will melt all the Haitian gold in out cathedrals and mail the gold bars back to you in your hour of need?” Yeah, not without a fight.

Src: France urged to repay Haiti billions paid for its independence

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