Declaration on the Hanging of Claude Jean Harri, alias Tulile
February 18, 2015. On February 4, Claude Jean Harri, Henry or Tulile, was found dead and hanging from a tree in Ercilia Pepin Park in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Tulile was a young Haitian man who worked shining shoes in the park to support his wife and two children. Initially, rumors circulated that his killing might be part of a broader anti-Haitian campaign.
This declaration denounces the killing of Claude Jean Harri, alias Tulile, and situates it within a broader environment of anti-Haitian hostility in the Dominican Republic. It highlights denationalization, threats against journalists, xenophobic rhetoric, and discriminatory policies.
The signatories call for a clear rejection of hate and for the protection of the rights and dignity of Haitian residents and Dominicans of Haitian descent.