Join members of the Rapid Response Network for a screening of Batay La.

Today, no society is immune from the effects of capitalism. In Haiti “Batay La,” or the struggle, has been ongoing since before the slave revolution that founded the Caribbean nation. The short documentary (25 minutes) examines the anti-imperialist movement in Haiti, led for decades by grassroots workers’ rights organization Batay Ouvriye (Workers Fight). Founded in 1994, Batay Ouvriye is known throughout Haiti as a fierce, uncompromised organization dedicated to overturning the system of exploitation.

While this movement organizes landless peasants, agricultural workers, and neighborhoods, their most active fight is in the garment assembly industry. Batay Ouvriye is committed to worker-led solutions as they confront the Haitian government, factory owners, international brands whose products are fabricated there, and the foreign nations who support this system of exploitation.

Batay Ouvriye workers say “We will not stop until our last breath,” and Batay La inspires its viewers to do the same, not just in support of their struggle, but to fight the forces of fascism and imperialism in our own backyards.

Batay La was released in 2019. Since then the country has been completely destabilized by gang violence. The RRN will share updates on Batay Ouvriye's current mobilizations to increase the minimum wage.

All donations are wired directly to Batay Ouvriye organizers in Haiti to use at their discretion to support the work of SOTA-BO, SOKOWA, SAKAD & SOVAGH textile unions as well as the landless peasant and agricultural labor efforts.

Ways your money is spent:

Printing flyers
Providing meals at union meetings
Transportation costs for union members traveling long distances to make meetings
Food, shelter, and the basics while work is either non-existent or seriously reduced due the the dangerous situation with gang violence across the country and concentrated in Port Au Prince.

Thank you for your support and solidarity!

About the Rapid Response Network:

The Rapid Response Network (RRN) offers prompt solidarity to workers’ struggles against exploitation and repression. RRN alerts groups and individuals when workers call for support. The network is composed of people from all over the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America - the consumers of goods, made via exploitation in countries dominated by imperialism. Instead of passive, conscious consumerism, the RRN encourages people to exercise their conscience by actively supporting the struggles and demands of organized workers.

May Day Film Screening + Fundraiser for Haitian workers

Learn about Batay Ouvriye & support Haitian workers.