Garifuna Pride - Our Voice - Our Vision
Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc
ph: (917) 783-5298
fax: (212) 202-7933
alt: (347) 866-2314
info

Garifunas have remained outsiders with no influence on the important political processes of New York City; they have been, in a word, “invisible”. Although Garifunas have been migrating to the United States in search of a better life since the 1930s, the community was virtually obscured in New York until the Happy Land Social Club fire. Fifty nine of the Happy Land victims were Hondurans. More than 70 percent of the Hondurans were also of Garifuna descent.[1]
Garifunas have been historically underrepresented in our democratic process.
There have been brief periods during which Garifunas have achieved the spotlight since the Happy Land social club fire in 1990, such as:
Moments before walking into a reception at the Borough President’s Office, at which the parade organizers were to publicly announce the cancellation of the parade, Carrión spoke to Mayor Bloomberg who instructed that the parade be allowed and that the required 15 police officers be provided for the parade and the Honduran Food and Music Festival that follows in Crotona Park. [3]
Unfortunately, since those turning points, a federal judge sentenced Maximo to 17 years in prison.[4] Maximo was the main force behind efforts to bring political leverage to the Bronx Garifuna community by promoting the Garifuna census, her arrest, had a chilling effect from the elected officials towards the Garifuna community, since they supported her and her organization.
The Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc is working to increase Garifuna involvement in the electoral process at the local, regional and national levels. The Coalition’s outreach efforts include voter registration drives in New York, community education events that emphasize the importance of voting, and partnerships with high schools to teach youth the responsibility of civic participation.
[1] Negron, Edna., Club Tragedy an Awakening for Garifuna, New York Newsday, August, 18, 1991
[2] Kugel, Seth, Bronx UP Close; A Quest to Count the Descendants Of Islanders and Castaway Slaves, New York Time, August 5, 2001
[3] Gomez, Javier Parade Cliffhanger: Honduran and Central American Day Parade will go on as scheduled; Borough president Carrion saves annual tradition, The Bronx Borough president’s Office Press Release, September 3, 2003
Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc
ph: (917) 783-5298
fax: (212) 202-7933
alt: (347) 866-2314
info