Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Laureates and Colleagues Remember Sonia Pierre

1998 RFK Human Rights Award Laureate Berenice Celeyta, Colombia

"Es muy triste esta noticia. A la familia de Sonia  y  a sus compañeros: Desde Colombia les enviamos un abrazo fraternal. El dolor de su ausencia solo se puede aliviar continuando su ejemplo. Las semillas que sembró Sonia Pierre deben germinar en su  nombre. El camino está abonado y regado con sus desvelos y sus sueños

Su fuerza para enfrentar las fronteras de injusticia que unos pocos han querido imponer sobre los derechos de todos ; su convencimiento para hacer respetar los derechos del pueblo Haitiano y Dominicano; su energía para continuar a pesar de las adversidades, obstaculos y amenazas. Son el legado que nos deja.

En homenaje a Sonia quiero enviar el poema de Anibal Nazoa, musicalizado por Juan Carlos Nuñez e interpretadopor Soledad Bravo.

Sonia Pierre with Kerry Kennedy, President of the RFK Center fo Justice and Human Rights, in the Domincian Republic in 2007.

Entre tu pueblo y mi pueblo hay un punto y una raya...
Entre tu pueblo y mi pueblo hay un punto y una raya...
La raya dice no hay paso el punto vía cerrada. 
La raya dice no hay paso el punto vía cerrada. 
y así entre todos los pueblos raya y punto punto y raya con tanta rayas y puntos 
el mapa es un telegrama.

Caminando por el mundo se ven ríos y montañas
se ven selvas y desiertos pero no puntos y rayas.
se ven selvas y desiertos pero no puntos y rayas.

Por que esas cosas no existen si no que fueron trazadas 
Para que mi hambre y la tuya estén siempre separadas. 
Para que mi hambre y la tuya estén siempre separadas.

">www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3cDMC4chM4

Gracias Sonia por tu ejemplo, no importa donde estemos ubicados geográficamente. Haití, República Dominicana, Colombia, Guatemala, México, Africa, Asia, Europa, Canadá, Estados Unidos, son mombres singulares, pero hay un plural del que hemos aprendido los derechos a la solidaridad, ese plural se llama  pueblo y somos los pueblos del mundo los llamados a frenar las injusticias, romper las fronteras y construir un futuro, incluyente, diverso, comunitario donde todos ocupemos un lugar importante en el mundo.

Sonia, un abrazo de siempre y para Siempre./

This news is quite sad. To Sonia’s family and colleagues: your friends and colleagues from Colombia send a fraternal embrace. We know that only by following Sonia's example will we be able to alleviate the pain of losing her. The seeds planted by Sonia Pierre will grow and be her legacy; the soil is already fertile with her work and with her dreams

Her strength in confronting injustice that a few individuals have wanted to impose on everyone’s rights; her commitment to demanding respect for the rights of the Haitian and Dominican peoples; her energy to continue, despite the challenges, the obstacles and threats. That is the legacy she leaves us.

In tribute to Sonia, I would like to share a poem by Anibal Nazoa, set to music by Juan Carlos Nuñez and interpreted by Soledad Bravo:

Between your people and my people, there is a mark and a line
The line says you cannot pass, and the mark says the path is closed
And, like this, amongst all peoples there are marks and lines, lines and marks, 
And this map is, in fact, a message.

When you walk across the world, you can see rivers and mountains,
You can see jungles and deserts, but no marks or lines. 
That’s because these things do not exist, they were merely traced
So that my hunger and yours would always be separated.

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Thank you, Sonia, for you example. It does not matter where we are – Haiti, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Africa, Asia, Europe, Canada, USA. All these names are singular names, but there is a plurality for those of us who know of the right to solidarity. This plurality is the people, the many peoples of the world – those called to end injustice, to break frontiers, and build a future that is inclusive, diverse, and community-based, where we each have an important place.

Sonia, an embrace, as always and Forever

2001 RFK Human Rights Award Laureate Darci Frigo, Brazil

“Recebo a notícia com muito pesar. Nossa esperança é que ela descanse em paz e que sua luta exemplar ilumine outras pessoas a tomar a defesa dos direitos humanos como ideário de vida.”/ “I receive the news of Sonia’s passing with much sorrow. Our hope is that she rests in peace and that her exemplary struggle enlightens others to take the defense of human rights as an ideology of life.”

2009 RFK Human Rights Award Laureate Magodonga Mahlangu, Zimbabwe

“Let’s all find comfort in that she stood firm and strived for the realization and protection of human rights. l  hope and pray that all of us in our busy schedule will remember to take time to make sure that this is not the end of her work and may her spirit guide us  all.”

From Sonia Pierre's memorial service.

2011 RFK Human Rights Award Laureate Frank Mugisha, Uganda

“I am so sorry to learn about the passing of Sonia Pierre; it is so sad to lose a human rights defender and a good person who is standing up for people's rights . It must be a sad moment for her friends and family and especially you who worked with her. I pray that you stay strong and may her soul rest in eternal peace.”

Karen Skyers, Former Intern

“Mi más sentido pésame y condolencias para ti y la familia de Sonia en estos momentos. Mi corazón está dolorido porque ella y su trabajo ha cambiado mi vida por siempre.  Estoy llorando pero debemos celebrar su vida y la pasión en la lucha contra la injusticia.” / “My deepest sympathy and condolences to you and Sonia’s family during this moment. My heart aches because she and her work have changed my life forever. I'm crying but we should celebrate her life and her passion in the fight against injustice.”

Anonymous

“I'm reaching out to you with a very heavy heart to offer my condolences following Sonia's untimely passing yesterday. Her loss is so personally devastating for the RFK Center as well as for the human rights communities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and certainly the cause of human rights and human rights defenders worldwide. I cannot express how sorry we are that the world, and you and your colleagues at RFK Center, have lost such a valued and important colleague.”

A crowd surrounds Sonia Pierre's family during the funeral procession.