Miami Haitian pastors stood alongside Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, joined by county commissioners, civic leaders, and community advocates from across South Florida, to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the January 12, 2010 Haiti earthquake and renew their call for an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) amid the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
The gathering was opened by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Marleine Bastien and drew a diverse cross-section of supporters. Civic leaders passionately reflected on the enduring suffering of children and families in Haiti in the years since the earthquake — and on the urgent need to extend TPS protections for the tens of thousands of Haitian nationals who have become active, contributing members of their communities across the United States.
Pastor David Eugene, HCLC President, and Dr. Keny Felix, President of NHF SBC, delivered brief but moving remarks. At 4:53 PM — the exact moment the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, claiming an estimated 300,000 lives sixteen years ago — a collective moment of silence was observed in remembrance of the dead and in solidarity with all those who continue to carry the weight of that day.
With umbrellas raised against the rain and voices joined in song, participants marched from the Toussaint Louverture Statue on 61st Street and Miami Avenue to the Little Haiti Cultural Center on 59th Street and Northeast 2nd Avenue for a candlelight vigil. The vigil featured remarks from community leaders, artists, and elected officials, each speaking with urgency and hope about the continued need for justice and protection for Haitian families.
The afternoon concluded with a unified call to action: protect immigrant families, stand with the Haitian community, and demand that federal leaders extend TPS for the thousands who have built their lives here and who have no safe path to return home.
