SAN ANTONIO – Together, culture and the way forward were the goals of the 2024 Haitian Culture Festival on the West Side after false claims spread during the election season.

The Haitian Culture Festival included food, dancing, laughter and education about Haitian culture. Attendees said the festival was fun, but the eventful evening came from a need for unity.

Bernadette Williams, organizer of the Haitian Culture Festival, said her community needs each other after months of false claims from political figures. President-elect Donald Trump’s baseless claims of Haitian migrants eating domestic animals has sparked outrage throughout the country.

“We’ve been hearing so many negative things right now about Haiti, and we’re feeling kind of jaded,” Williams said.

There was outrage in San Antonio as well, but without knowing the affected community, it was difficult to find support for Haitian migrants in the area.

“I’ve lived here for four years and I’ve never known the community,” said Bobb Rousseau, attendee.

“I think it’s always a good time to bring communities together,” Clyde Newton said. “Especially a culture and people who don’t know much about it can learn something about it.”

The timing of the festival, which took place on November 16, is significant. The anniversary of the final battle of the Haitian Revolution is on November 18. This is when Haiti defeated French forces and became its own independent nation.

Haiti now has to deal gang violence that’s what pushes people out of the country. Festival attendees said the way forward in San Antonio is for locals to better understand what the Haitian community has to offer.

“To show them that we are human, that we are a community and that we are strong,” Rousseau said. “We are united to do great things for America, for San Antonio and for Haiti.”