Haitian Revolution of 1986

The Anti-Duvalier protest movement was a series of demonstrations in Haiti from 23 May 1984 – 7 February 1986, that led to the overthrow of President Jean-Claude Duvalier and the Duvalier dynasty regime.

In 1957, Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier was elected to presidency and by 1964, he declared himself “President-for-life.” To keep the populace subservient, Papa Doc used a secret police called the Tonton Macoutes (Haitian Creole: Bogeymen), through the use of violence and intimidation. In 1970, the militia was renamed the Milice de Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale (Militia of National Security Volunteers). When he died in 1971, his son, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier took over and the group continued throughout his regime and maintained the same violent presence. Widespread problems of starvation and unemployment soon grew rampant.

On 23 May 1984, citizens in the city of Gonaïves began protests against Duvalier’s government calling it "Operation Déchoukaj," (Haitian Creole: Operation Uprising) which consequently led to police officers publicly beating a pregnant woman, who soon died. Activists’ listed grievances under Duvalier’s regime included general brutality against civilians and rising food costs, while some went to an aid warehouse to demand food. Law enforcement from the capital of Port-au-Prince came and quickly stopped the protests violently, and the government imposed a curfew on the city. However, the protests soon spread to other cities.

The protests came after the regime had loosened some of its restrictive laws. Duvalier said that state violence in prisons would no longer be allowed, and loosened press censorship. The United States, a big source of monetary aid for Haiti, said that Duvalier should be less brutal than his father had been, and granted a large annual aid package under the condition that Haiti improve its human rights situation. Haiti was dependent on foreign aid, primarily from the U.S., for 70% of its budget. Leadership in the criticism of Duvalier included Sylvio Claude, head of one opposition party, and Gregoire Eugene, the head of the other opposition party, as well as some other opposition politicians. Bishops in the predominantly Catholic nation also denounced the regime. 2,000 people signed a petition saying that the regime was enslaving the masses. The protests continued in towns and villages nationwide through November 1984.

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