After 20 Years, Trial Begins for Ex-UM Player Rashaun Jones in 2006 Murder of Teammate Bryan Pata

Haitian Americans have a new face to watch on Netflix: Wilnie Louis, the 33-year-old mental health counselor from the Boston area who is currently starring on Love Is Blind Season 11.⁠ ⁠ The season, set in the Boston metro area and hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, premiered on October 14. Wilnie, the youngest of three siblings entered the pods looking for a partner who would embrace her close-knit family and share in Haitian traditions.⁠ ⁠ As a mental health counselor based in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, @Wilnie_⁠ brings a grounded, emotionally intelligent presence to the show. Her professional background in supporting others through counseling naturally translates to the vulnerable conversations that define the Love Is Blind experiment. Viewers have seen her form a strong connection with Wilson Monteiro, a senior compliance manager. The pair got engaged in the pods after navigating the unique dynamics of the social experiment, including the early exit of another woman Wilson had connected with.⁠ ⁠ On screen, Wilnie has spoken about the importance of family, the comfort she feels when someone truly sees her, and even lighthearted details like her tendency to run late. Off-screen, she has shared in interviews that the moment she knew Wilson was “the one” came to her in a dream, she woke up certain he was the person she wanted to build a future with. Their journey has included the classic Love Is Blind milestones: the emotional pod conversations, the engagement, and the first face-to-face meeting.⁠ ⁠ Season 11 is still unfolding, with new episodes dropping weekly. As Wilnie and Wilson continue their journey outside the pods, the Haitian-American community will be watching ⁠ ⁠ Source: @loveisblindnetflix⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

Five days on the job. A lifetime of pressure in one of the toughest roles in Washington. That contrast has been impossible to ignore this week after President Trump’s brief appointment of Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary ended after just five days and one short briefing. The rapid departure has drawn widespread attention to the demands of the position, and few people understand those demands better than Karine Jean-Pierre.⁠ ⁠ The Haitian-American trailblazer, who served as White House press secretary from 2022 to 2025 under President Joe Biden, joined Laura Coates on CNN to discuss the realities behind the podium. Jean-Pierre, the first Black person and first openly LGBTQ person to hold the role (and the first Haitian-American immigrant to do so), spoke plainly about the preparation, stamina, and high stakes required.⁠ ⁠ “It takes preparation, and that preparation could take months, weeks. And it is hours of doing that on a daily basis,” she said. Even after extensive prep, she noted, mishaps can happen. The job demands constant learning, the ability to absorb vast amounts of information on foreign and domestic policy, and the capacity to spar with a room of 75 to 100 reporters while speaking on behalf of the president.⁠ ⁠ @K_jeanpierre emphasized that the stakes go far beyond the briefing room. Heads of state watch closely. Markets can react to wording. Credibility with the president, the press corps, and the American people is essential. “You have to be super careful, super mindful,” she explained, because what is said from the podium carries real consequences.⁠ ⁠ In the CNN interview, she contrasted the preparation and support required for the job with the circumstances surrounding the recent short tenure, noting that the role is not one that can be stepped into without serious groundwork. She also observed that anyone accepting the position under the current administration should understand the environment they are entering.⁠ ⁠ Sources: @CNN @K_jeanpierre⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

Grammy-winning producer and Haitian cultural ambassador Michaël Brun is bringing BAYO back to Miami’s Little Haiti on November 22, for a free block party celebrating the movement’s 10th anniversary, made possible through a major partnership with Rockstar Games.⁠ ⁠ Presented with support from Rockstar Games, the company behind the #GrandTheftAuto (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/grandtheftauto/) franchise, the event will welcome up to 7,500 attendees, the largest Little Haiti edition to date. Admission is free, with tickets distributed through a raffle and more than half reserved specifically for Florida residents and Haitian communities. Fans can sign up now at [bayotour.com]⁠ ⁠ In announcing the return, Brun said: “10 years ago, BAYO made its US debut as a free block party in Little Haiti celebrating Haitian and Caribbean culture. That show was the beginning of a beautiful journey across 12 cities, over 50,000 tickets sold, multiple arena and park shows and over 140 artist guests from around the world. I’m so proud to be bringing BAYO back to Little Haiti for our biggest show ever on November 22nd. New venue, huge surprises, our most iconic lineup of all time and FREE tickets courtesy of Rockstar Games.”⁠ ⁠ The timing adds another layer of visibility. Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated GTA VI is set for release on November 19, 2026, just three days before the BAYO celebration. The game’s fictional Vice City is famously inspired by Miami, placing the partnership and the Little Haiti event in the same cultural spotlight.⁠ ⁠ The Little Haiti return closes an anniversary run that already included Boston’s Agganis Arena and a sold-out three-night residency at Brooklyn Paramount. With Rockstar Games’ support making the celebration free and accessible, the 10th anniversary returns full circle to the neighborhood where BAYO began, bringing music, culture, and community together on a bigger stage.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

#LetsTalkAboutIt 🇭🇹 ⁠ Haiti hasn’t had an elected president in years. Security is fragile, the economy is under pressure, and the conversation about who leads next keeps getting pushed further down the road.⁠ ⁠ So we’re asking something bigger than a name.⁠ ⁠ What kind of leader does the country actually need right now? Someone who can restore security and trust? A steady hand focused on the economy and institutions? A unifier who puts the people first? Or someone completely outside the usual political circles?⁠ Who would you choose, and what qualities matter most to you in this moment? Drop your answer in the comments. ⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian #haiti

Happy Birthday L'Union Suite™ 15 Years Strong: A Legacy Amplified 🇭🇹 Today we proudly mark the 15th anniversary of L'Union Suite™ and The Haitian American, a milestone that belongs to every Haitian who has ever seen themselves in our stories. For fifteen years we have carried the culture, the brilliance, the resilience, and the unapologetic pride of our people across the world. From Port-au-Prince to Africa, our voice has risen higher each year, landing on platforms including New York Times, Netflix, NPR, ABC, CNN, Forbes, Black Enterprise, and beyond. This has never been just media. It has been a deliberate stand. We have celebrated the graduates, the small business owners, the athletes, the artists, and the everyday leaders who carry the weight of our community. We have amplified the voices that others overlook and refused to let political turmoil, disasters, or outside narratives define who we are. Through every challenge, we stayed rooted in the same truth that started it all: L’Union Fait La Force. That ancestral principle has guided every story, every partnership, and every fight. Over fifteen years we have built more than a platform, we have built a living archive of Haitian excellence and a space where the diaspora can see itself clearly, powerfully, and without apology. None of this exists without you. Your daily engagement, your shares, your ideas, your criticism, and your loyalty have turned this into a true movement that reaches millions. You have allowed us to honor the past while building something that the next generation can stand on. Every story we’ve told, every connection we’ve made, and every step we’ve taken has been fueled by your belief in this work. As we celebrate fifteen years, we are stepping into the next chapter with greater purpose, greater reach, and greater responsibility. The road ahead will still have challenges, but we face them the same way we always have, together, unwavering, and louder than ever. Thank you for 15 years of trust and power. Here’s to the impact already made, the unity that holds us, and the many years still ahead of amplifying the Haitian spirit without compromise. #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

A Haitian female drummer. 🇭🇹🙌🏾⁠ 🎥 Jesusneverchange0776/TikTok⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

At least $7 million in Haitian public funds tied to a roughly $24 million weapons and ammunition contract for the Haitian National Police (PNH) remains unaccounted for, according to a Miami Herald investigation published October 17.⁠ ⁠ The contract was awarded to Fencebridge Strategic Risk, a security company founded in Tennessee in 2015 by Daniel Nozell, the longtime manager of the late country music star Dolly Parton, and Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and the company’s CEO.⁠ ⁠ The agreement was intended to supply semi-automatic rifles and ammunition to the PNH as the force faces equipment shortages while confronting heavily armed gangs. Some ammunition shipments arrived in Haiti. A 32-ton shipment landed at Toussaint Louverture Airport on September 16.⁠ ⁠ However, questions remain about the handling of millions of dollars allocated to the deal. ⁠ ⁠ According to Haitian government records reviewed by the Miami Herald, more than $15 million was transferred to Ellie Soto, a U.S. citizen based in Texas, who served as an intermediary in the transaction. Documents show Soto confirmed receiving two transfers totaling approximately $15.35 million on January 27. Fencebridge COO, Andrew Day told the Herald that the company had not received more than $7Mil of those funds. The money was last traced to an escrow account controlled by Soto, leaving its final disposition unclear. ⁠ ⁠ The deal also involved former U.S. Congressman Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee who resigned from Congress in July 2025. Green helped Fencebridge obtain U.S. regulatory authorizations by connecting the company with attorneys. He told the Herald he received $600K for his services after billing more than $1 million.⁠ ⁠ Haitian Justice Minister Patrick Pélissier, whose ministry oversees the PNH, approved two agreements with Fencebridge. Fencebridge has denied wrongdoing. Tthe company said all shipments received the required U.S. government authorizations & denied that the firm or its representatives discussed, paid or offered kickbacks or commissions to Haitian officials. Day told the Herald that the company’s goal is to help Haitian authorities regain control from armed gangs. #lunionsuite

Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Saturday, October 17, in the largest mobilization since student protests over education conditions and the cost of living began last month. ⁠ ⁠ Authorities estimated roughly 550,000 participants nationwide, including about 110,000 in Paris; organizers claimed closer to 800,000. What began as calls for better school resources and relief from rising prices quickly descended into some of the worst urban unrest the country has seen in years, with looting, arson, and clashes with police dominating the aftermath.⁠ ⁠ In Paris, the main gathering formed at Place de la République, where the statue of Marianne was draped in a yellow vest, before the march moved toward Place de Clichy. The protests grew out of high-school actions that started in mid-September, particularly in working-class suburbs, over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, dilapidated buildings, and unequal resources. They expanded drawing unions, parents, teachers, and remnants of the Yellow Vests movement against declining public services and living costs that many say feel increasingly out of reach.⁠ ⁠ While the majority of demonstrators marched peacefully, fringe groups engaged in violence. Police deployed tear gas, stun grenades, and water cannons. Cars and street furniture were set alight, shops were looted, and public buildings were targeted. Video circulating even show a Haitian flag waving alongside Palestinian and French flags on streets near Boulevard de la Madeleine.⁠ ⁠ President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation Sunday condemning the violence as unjustified and saying the images provoked “anger and shame.” He distinguished legitimate peaceful grievances from those seeking chaos, stopped short of declaring a state of emergency⁠ ⁠ President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “France is burning,” blaming immigration: “The immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country. Close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!” ⁠ ⁠ Source: sansazb @cnn @phoenixtv_news⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Grammy-winning legendary Fugees co-founder, @WyclefJean headlined the British Museum Ball in London’s Great Court on October 17, 2026, his 57th birthday and the 220th anniversary of the assassination of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines. In a post that day, Jean connected the moment to Haiti’s revolutionary history: “Tonight, on my born day, I perform at the British Museum. On Oct. 17, 1806, Dessalines was assassinated, after declaring Haiti independent in 1804. Over 200 years later, a son of Haiti stands here. They preserved the documents. We preserved the spirit. Liberty or Death.”⁠ ⁠ Jean, born October 17, 1969, in Croix-des-Bouquets, has long linked his personal milestones to Haiti’s founding figures. The British Museum Ball, the second edition of the fundraising event under Artistic Director Es Devlin, featured a red theme drawn from the museum’s programming, including the Bayeux Tapestry loan, a display for the 250th anniversary of the United States, and an exhibition on Korean creativity.⁠ ⁠ The date carried layered meaning across the Haitian diaspora and in Haiti. October 17 is observed as Dessalines Day, a public holiday commemorating the 1806 assassination of the leader who proclaimed independence in 1804 and served as the country’s first emperor. In Port-au-Prince, officials including Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé marked the 220th anniversary with a wreath-laying and minute of silence at the Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien (MUPANAH), alongside calls to renew commitments to national unity, security, and sovereignty rooted in the ideals of 1804.⁠ ⁠ Happy Birthday Legend!!!! ⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

Former Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly has registered as a presidential candidate under the DEBLOKE political grouping, according to information confirmed by Haitian media and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).⁠ ⁠ Martelly’s name appears on the CEP’s preliminary list of 16 presidential candidates as of October 16, 2026. His registration is preliminary and does not guarantee final acceptance. The CEP has stated that all candidate files must still be reviewed and validated before an official list is published.⁠ ⁠ Martelly, who served as president from May 14, 2011, to February 7, 2016, left office without an elected successor, triggering a prolonged transitional period. He first rose to prominence as the konpa singer Sweet Micky before entering politics and winning the 2010–2011 election in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake.⁠ ⁠ His decision to run comes amid ongoing international sanctions. Martelly has been sanctioned by the United States, Canada, and the European Union over allegations of gang financing, drug trafficking, and related activities. His registration follows recent revisions to Haiti’s electoral decree that removed certain requirements previously viewed as barriers for individuals under foreign sanctions.⁠ ⁠ DEBLOKE is a political grouping associated with former members of the Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale (PHTK), the party Martelly once led. The first round of presidential, legislative, and local elections remains scheduled for December 13, 2026, though the electoral calendar is subject to possible adjustment. Candidate registration remains open until October 31.⁠ ⁠ The CEP will ultimately determine whether Martelly meets all legal and constitutional requirements to appear on the final ballot.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

Today, October 17, 2026, marks 220 years since the assassination of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, one of the most important figures in Haitian history and the man who led Haiti to independence. Dessalines played a central role in defeating French colonial forces and declaring Haiti’s independence on January 1, 1804. He later became the country’s first ruler and was proclaimed emperor under the name Jacques I. But on October 17, 1806, just two years after independence, Dessalines was assassinated at Pont-Rouge, near Port-au-Prince, during a period of political conflict among Haiti’s leaders. His death marked a turning point in the country’s early history. Haiti soon became divided between rival governments in the north and south. More than two centuries later, Dessalines remains a powerful symbol of Haiti’s fight for freedom, independence and national pride. Today, Haitians at home and across the diaspora remember his sacrifice and the role he played in building the world’s first independent Black republic. 220 years later, the legacy of Jean-Jacques Dessalines continues to live on. 🇭🇹 #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

#LetsTalkAboutIt 🇭🇹 ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian