Haitian Bridge Alliance says it is "under attack" and calls for investigation
The San Diego-based immigrant rights group reports surveillance of staff, swastikas outside its offices and a visitor who falsely claimed to be an FBI agent.
NEW YORK, United States. The San Diego-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) said on Wednesday, October 21, that it continues to be "under attack", and called for an immediate investigation into what it described as "a series of disturbing incidents".
HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef told Caribbean Life that the incidents include the photographing and recording of HBA staff and community members, the display of swastikas and other hateful symbols outside its offices, and the impersonation of a federal law enforcement officer.
Jozef said that this week an unidentified individual tried to enter HBA's centre claiming to be an FBI agent but fled when a security guard asked for official identification. The person's identity and affiliation remain unverified.
"For the past couple of weeks, unidentified individuals have been video-graphing and taking pictures of our team and community members creating extreme fear and heightened trauma for both our staff and clients," she said.
She said the purpose and potential use of the images remain unknown, raising concerns about privacy, retaliation and the safety of staff, immigrants and asylum seekers using the organisation's services.
"Not harmless symbols"
Jozef said the swastikas invoke "a history of white supremacy, racial persecution, and genocide".
"These are not harmless symbols," she said. "Their appearance at an immigrant rights organisation demands immediate investigation and accountability."
"We will not be threatened into silence, terrorised into submission, or intimidated out of our fight for justice," she added.
Demands
HBA is calling on US law enforcement to investigate the alleged impersonation of a federal officer, the repeated recording of its personnel and visitors, and previous displays of hate symbols, and to determine whether the incidents amount to unlawful harassment, threats or civil rights violations.
Jozef also asked authorities to protect HBA staff and community members, and urged elected officials, civil rights organisations and community leaders to condemn intimidation of humanitarian organisations and immigrant communities across the United States.
