At Least 30 Killed in Gang Attack on Kenscoff as Haiti Faces Renewed Violence

It took a day or so, but Target has apologized. Target issued a full public apology after removing a children’s Halloween costume that sparked widespread criticism for resembling racist blackface and minstrel-era imagery.⁠ ⁠ In a statement shared across its social platforms, the retailer said:⁠ ⁠ “We removed an offensive Halloween costume that should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer for sale. As a company, we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners. Removing the costume is an important first step, and we are looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.”⁠ ⁠ The costume, sold under Target’s Hyde & EEK! Boutique brand as the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume,” featured an exaggerated wide smile on a dark mask, solid black gloves, and promotional images of a young Black child. Critics pointed out that the overall desig, particularly the oversized grin and the way it framed the child’s face, closely mirrored the exaggerated facial features used in 19th- and early 20th-century minstrel shows and blackface performances, which were created to mock and dehumanize Black people.⁠ ⁠ Those historical caricatures were a form of racist entertainment that helped reinforce harmful stereotypes for generations. Seeing a similar look marketed as a children’s Halloween costume, especially on a Black child model, struck many as deeply tone-deaf and painful.⁠ ⁠ Target confirmed the item has been fully pulled from sale. The company has not yet shared details on how the costume made it through its product review process, but stated it is examining what went wrong and what needs to change.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

At least 40 people were killed in a brutal overnight gang attack on the hillside commune of #Kenscoff, just outside #PortauPrince, according to local authorities. The assault, carried out by members of the Viv Ansanm coalition late Sunday into early Monday, targeted residents and a displaced persons camp sheltering inside a church, leaving bodies scattered, homes and vehicles burned, and dozens wounded or missing.⁠ ⁠ Mayor Jean Massillon described the attack as “a night of terror,” confirming that armed men stormed homes and the church, executing people and setting fires. Rights groups and local reports place the death toll between 30 and more than 40, with searches for the missing still ongoing.⁠ ⁠ On Monday, August 24, Police Nationale d’Haïti (PNH) Director General André Jonas Vladimir Paraison and Port-au-Prince Government Commissioner Fritz Patterson Dorval traveled to Kenscoff. The high-level visit came as security forces, including specialized units and armored vehicles, secured the area amid a large crowd of residents demanding stronger protection.⁠ ⁠ In statements on the ground, Paraison reaffirmed that the police would not back down. He emphasized ongoing presence in key points across the commune, the deployment of reinforcements, and the institution’s determination to support the population against advancing gangs. The government commissioner addressed questions about coordination between police and judicial authorities, noting the resources already allocated to Kenscoff and the need for technical responses from the PNH leadership while justice officials handle their side of investigations.⁠ ⁠ Video Source: @Passioninfoplus⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haiti

In a heartfelt message that captures both ambition and heartbreak, young Haitian content creator and farmer Stefano Ditalie announced he is closing his farm in Kenscoff, a project he built to prove that hard work and determination can still yield success in #Haiti.⁠ 🙏🏾💔 ⁠ “I wanted to prove to you that in Haiti, a young person could still dream, work hard, and build something great,” he wrote. “I wanted to show you our fields, our harvests, our animals, our efforts… and above all, show you that we could succeed despite the odds.”⁠ ⁠ That dream has been put on hold.⁠ ⁠ “But today, I have to share news I never wanted to write… We are closing our farm in Kenscoff. I don’t even know for how long,” he said. “The most painful part isn’t just closing a farm. It’s seeing years of hard work, sacrifice, and dreams come to a halt because of a situation we didn’t choose.”⁠ ⁠ The announcement comes in the wake of a brutal overnight attack on Kenscoff. Late Sunday into early Monday, members of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition stormed the hillside farming community above Port-au-Prince. Officials and rights groups report at least 30 to 40 people killed, with homes and vehicles set on fire. Attackers targeted a church sheltering displaced residents, entered homes, and left survivors searching for missing loved ones amid the chaos.⁠ ⁠ Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon described the assault as one that “sowed chaos.” The government has condemned the attack and said reinforcements are being deployed, stating “Kenscoff will not be abandoned.”⁠ ⁠ For @_Ste_phane, the farm represented more than crops and livestock. It was a living counter-narrative, a place to demonstrate that young #Haitians could still plant, harvest, and build in their own country.⁠ ⁠ “I thought ‘Viv Ansanm’ was meant to bring us closer, unite us, and allow us to build together,” he wrote. “Today, it hurts to see the extent to which this division can destroy us. I wanted to share a success story with you. Instead, I find myself announcing a story of departure.” ⁠ ⁠ The farm’s closure is one more visible cost of the insecurity that has repeatedly struck Kenscoff.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite

At least 30 people were killed in an overnight gang attack on Kenscoff, a hillside community overlooking Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, according to the town’s mayor and rights groups.⁠ ⁠ Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon on Monday, August 24, said that armed men raided the area late Sunday into early Monday. He described it as a “night of terror” in which attackers “sowed chaos,” entered homes, killed residents, and set properties on fire. Massillon said at least 30 people died; he and other officials noted that a full toll remained difficult to confirm due to access and communication problems.⁠ ⁠ The Haitian rights group RNDDH estimated 30 to 40 killed and 15 to 20 wounded in the raid, which began around 10:30 p.m. local time. Local accounts described bodies along roads and survivors discovering relatives among the dead. ⁠ ⁠ Attackers, identified by the mayor as members of the Viv Ansanm (also spelled Viv Asanm) gang coalition, targeted homes and a church sheltering people already displaced by earlier violence. Several houses were burned, including the residence of Dr. Jean William “Bill” Pape, a leading Haitian public-health expert and HIV/AIDS researcher who runs an NGO serving patients with HIV and tuberculosis.⁠ ⁠ Kenscoff occupies a strategic hillside position overlooking routes into Pétion-Ville (home to embassies, upscale hotels, and the temporary seat of government) and roads linking the capital to southern Haiti. Massillon and reports indicate roughly a dozen attacks by armed gangs since the previous year. A major wave from late January to March 2025 killed more than 260 people, destroyed or burned about 200 homes, and forced around 3,000 residents to flee, according to UN estimates.⁠ ⁠ The latest attack fueled public anger over inadequate protection. Haiti’s prime minister’s office condemned the “heinous attack,” stated that security forces were on high alert with reinforcements being deployed, and declared that “Kenscoff will not be abandoned” and that government authority would be restored without delay.⁠ ⁠ 📸 REUTERS/Fildor Pq Egeder⁠ (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Congratulations Dr. 🇭🇹🥹👏🏾🩺⁠ 🎥 Manouchka_nursingstudent⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitianexcellence

Just join in on the song sis! 😬🇭🇹 ⁠ 🎥 @msyapalot2003⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

Target is under fire AGAIN!! Target has removed a children’s Halloween costume from its website and issued an apology after widespread criticism that the outfit and its promotional photos evoked racist blackface and minstrel-era caricatures. The product, sold for $25 under Target’s Hyde & EEK! Boutique Halloween line and listed as the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit,” featured an orange-printed bodysuit with black gloves and a dark hood incorporating a painted-on, exaggerated smile. It was modeled by a young Black boy posed with one leg bent backward and one arm raised in a wave, a stance critics said closely mirrored Jim Crow-era stereotypes and historical racist depictions of Black people from 19th-century minstrel shows. Screenshots of the product page began circulating widely on social media over the weekend, sparking immediate and intense outrage. Comedian @LaTrezAnderson posted an Instagram Reel reacting with, “Target, for real? I’m not surprised, but this is a new low.” Other users voiced concern for the child model. Reviewers flooded the product page with one-star ratings, and comparisons to historical blackface performances and Jim Crow caricatures spread rapidly across social media. It is unclear exactly when the costume first appeared for sale but by Sunday, Target had pulled it; as of Monday the page was unavailable, displaying a message that the item was no longer offered. In a statement provided to Newsweek, Target said: “As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment.” The retailer added that the item was “especially hurtful” for Black customers, team members, and partners, and that it is examining how the costume reached shelves and what changes are needed to prevent similar issues. The controversy has reignited calls for a boycott of Target. Some social media users pointed to the retailer’s earlier decisions to scale back DEI initiatives and urged Black shoppers and others to withhold their business, framing the costume as further evidence of insensitivity. 📸 @Diet_prada #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Floridians…. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, your Republican nominee for governor, defended the Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians on CBS’s Face the Nation [@Facethenation] on Sunday and outlined a plan to fill potential gaps in the state’s healthcare workforce through domestic training programs.⁠ 😑😑 ⁠ Host Margaret Brennan noted that about 158,000 Haitians had been living legally in Florida under TPS before the program ended. She cited the State Department’s “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti, pointing to crime, lack of healthcare access, kidnapping risks, and other dangers, and asked whether those conditions justified continued protection. Brennan also referenced fellow Florida Republicans, including Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who have described TPS holders as essential to the workforce, particularly the estimated 100,000 Haitians working in healthcare across the state. She asked how Florida would replace those workers if they were deported.⁠ ⁠ Donalds addressed conditions in Haiti, saying he has met with the country’s transitional government and its ambassador. “They’re working on security forces right now as we speak to begin to stabilize Haiti. They’ve got about a quarter to half of the country under control from the gangs that basically took over Haiti,” he said.⁠ ⁠ He then argued that TPS was never meant to be permanent. “The Biden administration, through enforcement, took the ‘T’ off the program. They turned that into a permanent program,” Donalds said, criticizing broader Biden-era policies on borders and asylum.⁠ ⁠ On the workforce question, Donalds pointed to training Florida’s own young people and adults. “What we want to do is, number one, we want to make sure that our kids coming out of high school are having internships and apprenticeships,” he said. He cited his “Launchpad” initiative, which aims to connect high school juniors and seniors with apprenticeships and internships so they can move directly into jobs upon graduation. He also called for strengthening adult education and career transition programs so workers can shift into high-demand fields like healthcare.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Former North Miami Police Chief Marc Elias Jr., a Haitian-American law enforcement leader who made history in South Florida, has died in Haiti, according to his family and confirmed by local reporting.⁠ ⁠ Elias died Thursday night, August 20, in Port-au-Prince after becoming seriously ill and being taken to a hospital. Preliminary information points to possible food poisoning, though the precise cause of death has not been officially confirmed. He was in Haiti assisting a family member with security matters related to a Toyota dealership amid ongoing security challenges in the capital.⁠ ⁠ Born in Miragoâne, Haiti, Elias emigrated to the United States in 1982. He attended Collège Roger Anglade in Port-au-Prince and later graduated from Columbia Southern University in Alabama with a degree in criminal justice administration. He built a long career in South Florida law enforcement that included service with the Miami Police Department.⁠ ⁠ In 1999, he became police chief of Florida City, one of the early Haitian-American leaders to hold such a position in Miami-Dade County. He joined the North Miami Police Department as assistant chief in 2010 and was promoted to chief in 2011, becoming the first Haitian-American to lead the department in a city with one of the largest Haitian communities in the United States.⁠ ⁠ During his tenure, Elias worked to strengthen ties between South Florida law enforcement and the Haitian National Police. He made multiple trips to Haiti focused on sharing experience in community policing and related areas. Elias stepped down as North Miami police chief in February 2014 after reaching an agreement with the city described as an amicable conclusion to his service. His departure came amid scrutiny over expenses for trips to Haiti.⁠ ⁠ The North Miami Police Department issued a statement extending deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, honoring his service to the city and community. His death is being felt across the Haitian-American community in South Florida, where he is remembered for breaking barriers as a Haitian-American law enforcement leader. ⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Bonjou ☕️⁠ 📸: @shed_metayer⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian #culture

🇭🇹👑 In a night of elegance, culture, and diaspora pride, Tatenda Rameau was crowned Miss Universe Haiti 2026 on Sunday evening at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. The Haitian-American actress and arts advocate, who competed as Miss Arrondissement des Cayes, will now represent Haiti on the global stage at Miss Universe 2026, scheduled for November 24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ⁠ ⁠ The pageant, traditionally held in Haiti, took place in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood due to ongoing challenges in the country. Approximately 26 contestants of Haitian descent competed, each representing a region or arrondissement tied to their family roots. Melissa Sapini, Miss Universe Haiti 2025, passed the crown to Rameau in a moment that celebrated continuity and resilience for Haiti’s presence on the international pageant circuit.⁠ ⁠ @Tatendarameau, whose full name is Tatenda Josephina Rameau, brings a compelling blend of cultural depth, artistic experience, and advocacy to the title. Born in Syracuse, New York, to a Haitian-American mother and Jamaican-American father, she was raised across the United States, France, and Ghana. That international upbringing shaped her adaptability and strong sense of identity. She has previously competed in the Miss America system, placing in the Top 5 at Miss District of Columbia and earning the Miss Georgia Gives Back Award for her community work.⁠ ⁠ In the lead-up to the final, Rameau actively engaged supporters through social media. Her representation of Arrondissement des Cayes, a key region in Haiti’s South department centered around Les Cayes, connected her personal story to the island’s geography and heritage.⁠ ⁠ Rameau now prepares for the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico, where she will join representatives from more than 100 countries and territories. The competition will take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan. Her selection continues Haiti’s recent return to the pageant after a period of absence, following Melissa Sapini’s participation in 2025. Congratulations to Miss Universe Haiti 2026, Tatenda Rameau. ⁠ ⁠ 📸 @missuniverse.haiti⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

#LetsTalkAboutIt 🇭🇹 ⁠ ⁠ Family, we’re not sure this is a restaurant we as a community are eating at, but here’s a very interesting trending story of the day.⁠ ⁠ Texas Roadhouse, the popular American steakhouse chain known for its hand-cut steaks and fresh-baked rolls, is facing widespread online criticism after social media users alleged that some restaurant employees participated in a large private Facebook group where members discussed mistreating Black customers, including claims of food tampering.⁠ ⁠ The controversy began circulating on Sunday, August 23, when X user yannaarose_ posted claims about a Facebook group with more than 400,000 members, said to include servers from Texas Roadhouse and Logan’s Roadhouse. According to the posts, discussions in the group allegedly included talk of spitting in Black customers’ food and other forms of mistreatment, along with references to poor hygiene practices involving the restaurant’s signature rolls. The claims were quickly amplified by other accounts, including FearedBuck, sparking significant outrage and calls for boycotts among some users.⁠ ⁠ A screenshot circulating as a statement from Texas Roadhouse’s TikTok account read, in part: “At Texas Roadhouse, we are committed to creating an environment where every guest is treated with respect and unreasonable hospitality. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or mistreatment of any kind, and we expect our Roadies to treat every guest with dignity and care. Our commitment to the communities in which we serve remains unchanged: provide Legendary Food, Legendary Service to every guest who walks through our doors.”⁠ ⁠ As the story developed, public reaction mixed strong condemnation of the alleged behavior with questions about the lack of concrete evidence. The original poster later stated that the claims turned out to be a hoax. No formal investigations, lawsuits, or official company investigations tied specifically to this Facebook group claim had been publicly reported at the time of the initial surge in attention, and the allegations remain unverified.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican