Violence Mars Haiti Rally for Law, Order
Agitators hurled rocks and bottles Friday as thousands gathered in front of Haiti’s National Palace to demand law and order.
“No to violence!” the crowd shouted minutes after a group of activists threw stones and chairs at the podium and stomped anti-violence posters.
The disruption started before the rally, with one speaker grabbing a microphone, calling former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide a “murderer” and blaming him for the sometimes violent protests that have erupted in Port-au-Prince, the capital, since April.
Stores and street merchants have lost millions in sales.
The speaker, Jude L. Jean-Jacques, was a supporter of the 1991 army coup that ousted Aristide. In September 1994, 20,000 U.S. troops intervened to restore the democratically elected government.
The rock- and bottle-throwing continued during the rally. Police later dispersed the crowd.
Recent street protests were sparked by the fatal shooting April 20 of a pro-Aristide activist. Aristide protesters targeted police, accusing them of doing little to fight crime and of brutality.
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