Dear Friends of IJDH,

My name is Ira Kurzban. For over 50 years, I have fought alongside Haitian allies for the rights of Haitians in the US. I have fought – and won – on the streets of Miami, in the press, in the U.S. Supreme Court, and on Capitol Hill. I have seen over and over again that combining first-rate legal advocacy with grassroots organizing can achieve justice victories that once seemed impossible. 

I helped start both the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) and the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) because I knew that people in Haiti needed, and deserved, unlikely justice victories. As I prepare to respond to the challenges of the next four years, I take great comfort in knowing that both BAI and IJDH have risen to the challenges repeatedly, from the 2000 Raboteau trial through the 2011 pursuit of Jean Duvalier, protecting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2018 and combating racist narratives that seek to dehumanize Haitians in 2024. 

These victories were never inevitable; they were achieved through relentless resistance and the steadfast belief that justice is worth fighting for. This work is far from over. The next few years will call us to resist, not despair, as we build on IJDH and BAI’s legacy of resistance. 

I’ll never forget how, in the toughest days for Haitian refugees, the Miami community came together, led by Haitian activists like Father Gerard Jean-Juste and lawyers like my friend, Irwin Stotzky. Despite overwhelming opposition, we stood firm and won victories that transformed lives and reshaped immigration law in the United States for political refugees.

As a founder of IJDH, I invite you to join me in supporting this critical work. Together, we can continue securing victories that once seemed impossible. Thank you for your unwavering support.

With gratitude,
Ira Kurzban
Founder, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti
Partner, Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli & Pratt, P.A.