16104: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Aristide is invited to NAACP forum (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Thu, Jul. 10, 2003

Aristide is invited to NAACP forum
BY JACQUELINE CHARLES
jcharles@herald.com

The NAACP, which will kick off its national convention in Miami Beach on
Friday, has invited Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to participate
in a Caribbean Summit planned for Wednesday.

Aristide was invited by the civil rights organization to be among a select
group of people who will discuss issues such as immigration, trade and aid
to Caribbean governments.

NAACP spokeswoman Fambridge Payne said that while the organization is still
awaiting confirmation from Aristide, he did indicate his willingness to
attend the summit.

He said he would send a government representative if he were unable to
attend, Payne said.

A spokesman for the president in Haiti said in a telephone interview that it
was ''highly likely'' Aristide would participate.

This would be Aristide's first visit to South Florida since 2000, and his
first official visit since beginning his second term in office.

If Aristide comes, his visit is sure to spark passionate debate among
Haitian Americans, whose opinions are divided on his performance.

But that debate shouldn't deter the visit, community activists say.

''This is an indication of our concern about the whole U.S. involvement in
the Caribbean and our foreign-policy issue,'' said Bradford Brown, the NAACP
Miami-Dade County branch president.

``We know there are strong feelings on both sides in our community in regard
to his performance in office. Nevertheless, he was elected and when it's
time, he will face the electorate again.''

State Rep. Phillip Brutus, D-North Miami, said the invitation is a chance
for dialogue.

''There are some folks who may feel that he shouldn't have been invited
because of the problems surrounding elections and the impasse the country is
in,'' Brutus said.

``At the same time, other people feel he should be invited for the same
problems.''

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