August 2, 2025

Contact: Paige Censale, pcensale@haitianbridge.org

San Diego, CA – Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) mourns the heartbreaking death of Aland Etienne, a Haitian immigrant and devoted father of two who was fatally shot while working unarmed as a security officer  in Midtown Manhattan on July 29, 2025. Etienne, a member of 32BJ SEIU with more than six years of service at 345 Park Avenue, was widely remembered by his family, union, and community as a dedicated professional and New York City hero. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the families and loved ones of Wesley LePatner, Didarul Islam, and Julia Hyman , who were also tragically killed by the gunman.

Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, issued the following statement: 

“Aland Etienne embodied courage, service, and the enduring spirit of the Haitian diaspora in the United States. He honored his community by showing up every day to protect others, and his loss has left a void no words can heal. We demand justice and accountability for his senseless death and call on city and building officials to strengthen protections and support for security workers. Etienne’s passing is not just a personal tragedy—it is a sharp reminder of the systemic vulnerabilities immigrant workers face, and the urgent need for safe workplaces and racial justice.”

ABOUT HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies, foreign policy, and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and builds solidarity and collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @haitianbridge