Falls Church, VA – Following is a statement from Archi Pyati, Chief Executive Officer of the Tahirih Justice Center.

As a leading advocate for immigrant survivors of violence, and an organization inspired by the principles of the Baha’i Faith, the Tahirih Justice Center has a message for immigrants – particularly Haitian immigrants – in Ohio and beyond.

We know it isn’t an easy decision to leave where we are born and seek a fresh start in another country. We know the paths many immigrants and refugees take can be very long and very hard. At Tahirih, we hold as a foundational value the oneness of our humanity, and that we all have a right to safety and justice.

What is happening now in Springfield, Ohio and beyond is wrong. It is racist and frightening. Spreading hateful and xenophobic lies that demonize immigrants who are here to simply live their lives has a real impact. These words fuel threats and acts of violence intended to terrify immigrants and have ripple effects throughout the country. These impacts are especially heavy for Black and brown communities, but they weaken our society as a whole.

Whether you were born in the United States or just arrived, every human being deserves safety and respect.

At the Tahirih Justice Center, we support immigrant survivors of gender-based violence on their journey to justice. We work with survivors to access protections available to them under the law, and advocate for changing the law when existing structures fail to protect all of us. Today, Haitians in Ohio and other states are experiencing a level of fear and danger that no person should face, including survivors of trauma.

A future that honors the oneness of our humanity will be built by all of us. Every individual who breaks the cycle of violence and speaks out against hateful rhetoric is a force for change and a sign that the future we dream of is possible.

The Tahirih Justice Center offers our solidarity to Haitian-born residents and immigrants across this country.

For more resources on ways individuals and organizations can show up in this moment, please see this toolkit from the Haitian Bridge Alliance.