Miami Haitians Continue to Vent Anger Over Coup

Hundreds of anguished Haitian-Americans took to the streets of Miami again Tuesday to vent their frustration and anger over the coup in their homeland, which drove Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the country’s first democratically elected president, into exile.

The daylong demonstration in the heart of the Little Haiti section was watched by scores of police officers in full riot gear determined to prevent a repeat of the violence that broke out Monday.

As word of the popular Aristide’s arrest reached Miami on Monday evening, an outpouring of grief spilled over into a small riot. Fires were set in the street, a Haitian insurance man who reportedly voiced support for the coup was nearly burned to death, some looting took place and police eventually fired several rounds of tear gas to break up the mobs.

One police officer was injured slightly when doused with gasoline, police said. About 75 people were arrested.

Aristide’s ouster came just three days after he had visited Miami to thank the Haitian community here, estimated to number about 60,000, for help in his overwhelming election victory seven months ago. More than 13,000 people filled the Miami Arena to hear the slight, soft-spoken Roman Catholic priest talk of the promise that democracy would bring to their impoverished nation.

Aristide, 38, is widely seen here as both the political and spiritual leader Haiti deserves after 30 years of Duvalier dictatorship, and news of his overthrow hit hard.