he Haitian American Nurses Association of Hudson Valley, New York, Inc., (HANA) stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement to denounce the systemic racism in the United States of America that has culminated in the brutal death of Mr. George Floyd.

On May 25, 2020, the world watched the death of this individual in horror by Minneapolis Police officers. As nurses, our priority is to save lives, educate, take care of the sick, advocate, stand up for social justice, etc. We also recognize how police brutality affects or alienates people of color in the United States and contributes to poor health outcomes. Our profession challenges us to speak up and use our experiences to solve problems and become change agents.

Therefore, the Haitian American Nurses Association of Hudson Valley, New York, Inc., unequivocally rejects racism in all forms, and demands an end to the oppression and injustice that people of color face continuously. Societal violence is the root cause of maltreatment of people of all ages. And as nurses, we cannot remain silent in the face of deprivation, torture, prejudice, and social inequality.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence, 1776).

In solidarity,
Marlyn Lestage-Laforest CNM-NP, MA, MPH, RN
President of HANA of Hudson Valley, New York, Inc.