City Hall put out the usual polished account of this year’s Haitian Flag Raising, but behind the ceremonial language is a simple fact worth stating plainly: Everett’s Haitian population is not a side note. It is a major part of the city’s civic, cultural, and business life, and officials are right to say so out loud.
The 10th annual Haitian Flag Raising Ceremony was held Monday, May 18 at City Hall in partnership with the Everett Haitian Community Center. The event marked Haitian Heritage Month and recognized what the city itself described as the contributions of one of Everett’s largest populations.
Mayor Robert Van Campen used the occasion to connect that history to the present. “The Haitian Revolution resulted in the first Black republic and the first nation founded through a successful revolt of enslaved people,” he said. He added, “Today, we are proud to recognize the many Haitian-American residents, leaders, clergy, educators, nonprofit organizations, youth leaders, and business owners who contribute to Everett.”
That is the ceremonial version. The practical version is this: thousands of people in Everett identify as Haitian, and any politician pretending that is just another line in a speech is kidding himself. The city noted that Massachusetts ranks among the top three states in Haitian population, with Everett named alongside Boston, Brockton, and Randolph as a major hub.
The event drew the usual lineup of elected officials and office representatives. State Reps. Joe McGonagle and Judith García attended. So did Councilor Guerline Alcy Jabouin and Consul Mergeline Lochard from the Consulate General of Haiti in Boston. Staff from the offices of Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Ayanna Pressley were also there, with Mateo Rull Garza presenting a recognition to the Everett Haitian Community Center on Pressley’s behalf.
The stronger remarks came from EHCC Executive Director Rev. Dr. Myrlande DesRosiers, who skipped the vague boilerplate and made the point directly. “This annual celebration shows that the Haitian community is an integral pillar of this city,” she said. “From elders who paved the way, to young leaders claiming their seats at the table, to cultural leaders who create spaces for Haitian culture to shine — Haitians are here, we are loud, and we are proud.”
That is clearer than most official speeches, and more honest too.
EHCC also recognized six honorees: Councilor Stephanie Martins, Councilor Katy Rogers, Marie Stéphanie A. Pierre, Mary Hopkins, Gerly Adrien, and John Hanlon.
The program included poetry, dance, music, and student participation from Everett Public Schools’ Emerging Bright Stars program and Haitian Heritage Club. Poet Mecca Grimo Marcelin performed wearing historical dress and using the lambi, the conch shell associated with the Haitian Revolution.
DesRosiers also offered the kind of line that city governments like to quote because it sounds nice and offends nobody: “The strength of this city lies in its diversity.” Fine. But the more useful takeaway is not the greeting-card version. It is that Haitian residents have built institutions, businesses, churches, leadership networks, and a visible political presence in Everett over time.
A flag raising is symbolic. Symbols matter. But they matter most when the city treats the people under that flag as more than a photo opportunity the next morning.