Haitian-Americans React to Aristide Exit

[La_Serpiente]

Haitian-Americans React to Aristide Exit

MIAMI - In the heart of Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, opponents of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide celebrated while supporters of the exiled leader demonstrated against his departure.

Although the demonstrations Sunday were mostly peaceful, some Aristide supporters smashed the car window of a woman who supported Aristide's ouster, said Miami police spokesman Delrish Moss. No one was injured.

South Florida is home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the nation, and it has growing political clout. The population is at least 150,000, and some believe it may be three times larger.

"So many people are happy today because we've been living in such fear of being free to speak," said Claude Mancuso, a French-Moroccan who has lived on and off in Haiti since 1979, and owns the Miami-based Haitian Television Network.

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Haitian-Americans React to Aristide Exit