Community leaders make final plea for Harris as Election Day closes in
By Amelia Orjuela Da Silva
(Source: Miami Times Staff Writer)
Though Vice President Kamala Harris has yet to visit Florida on her presidential campaign trail, her husband, Douglas Emhoff, has. The Second Gentleman made a quick stop in Miami-Dade to meet with voters and elected officials on Thursday at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, hoping to spur civic engagement as the second week of early voting drew in.
The day prior, he had participated in a rally in Broward County, where he expressed confidence that Democrats can win Florida and urged caution regarding former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric.
“We really need to listen to what Donald Trump is saying, what’s coming out of his mouth. We lived through it when he was president. Somehow we got through it. This time around, he poses an even greater threat – to the economy, to women, and our very lives,” Emhoff said during the “Get Out The Vote” rally in Hallandale Beach.
The visit to Little Haiti held special significance for a local Haitian community marred by GOP attacks. Last month, Trump made baseless claims about Haitians eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Later, he threatened to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants if re-elected.
Emhoff’s arrival was welcomed by local Haitian leaders and activists, who emphasized the election’s importance for their community. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the first Haitian from Florida elected to Congress, expressed gratitude for the second gentleman’s presence.
“He’s been going throughout the state talking about the needs, especially for the Haitian community, and understanding how crucial this election is for us,” she said.
She also highlighted the harmful impact of Trump’s rhetoric:
“The way we’ve been denigrated by Donald Trump and his colleagues, him (Emhoff) standing up here and talking to us, is one of the best things that can happen right now.”
A call for change
Several of those present drew a stark contrast between Trump and Harris, particularly when it comes to the two candidates’ views on immigration.
“Immigration. Immigration. Immigration,” repeated community activist Carline Paul, who has lived in Little Haiti for more than 45 years. She noted that several Haitians have been living under TPS for upwards of 15 years.
She stressed the necessity for comprehensive reform, and insisted that the only way to facilitate that is by voting blue across the ballot.
“If you only elect Kamala and don’t give her the House and Senate, she will be unable to do immigration reform,” Paul said.
Paul pressed on another urgent need that she says is impacting her community significantly: affordable housing. She expressed concerns over rising resents that prevent the Haitian community’s ability to thrive.
“As a Haitian American, I want my people to feel that I’ve worked here for 15 years. I have children. I’m entitled to have the American dream,” she said.
Dinah J. Escarment, chairwoman for Florida Rising and vice president of the Miami-Dade Haitian Democratic Caucus, underscored the need for funding within Haitian communities.
“Funding is a big issue because I don’t think the funds are fairly allocated in our communities,” she said. “If you look at our neighboring cities, their schools are very well funded. There’s a lot of things that they get access to that we don’t get access to.”
She believes that supporting Kamala Harris is crucial for improving these disparities.
“I feel like if it starts from the top, it’ll trickle down with good direction and good leadership,” Escarment said.
Get out the vote
Escarment further emphasized the need for greater voter participation, particularly among young people. She noted how early voting turnout has improved since the August primary and shared her efforts in engaging students from FIU, where she graduated.
“This is their second event, and I’m actively inviting them to more political gatherings,” she said. “It’s vital to involve the younger generation — they are the future. While we were waiting, several students even ran to vote next door. They may not be deeply into politics yet, but they’re seeing the way things are changing and shifting, so they want to be a part of it.”
Meanwhile, Paul underscored the importance of civic education among elderly voters. She highlighted the initiatives her organization, The Good Samaritan Relief Inc., has undertaken to translate important voting information to Haitian Creole, empowering individuals to make informed choices.
“We do organization in civic education,” Paul explained. “We have translated the amendment from English to Haitian Creole by not telling people how to vote, but by telling them if you vote yes, this is what happens, and if you vote no, this is what happens.”
“We allow the people to make their own choice, but we educate them,” she added.
Paul also shared details about the organization’s efforts in radio outreach and helping seniors get to the polls.
As Election Day closes in, Emhoff’s visit served as a rallying point, igniting a call to action within the Haitian community. The message was clear: mobilizing the vote is critical to countering harmful narratives and ensuring their voices are heard.
For Escarment, it is time for America to shift mentalities, with Harris leading that vision.
“It’s the season for a Black woman president,” she said.
State Rep. Marie Woodson echoed this sentiment with urgency:
“We need to get Kamala elected because, without Kamala Harris, we stand to lose this country.”
