Haitian Americans, advocates and elected officials gathered on Friday, October 30, outside the Franklin County Board of Elections on Morse Road in Columbus, Ohio, for “Kompa to the Polls,” a get-out-the-vote event organized by Haitian-Americans for Ohio, The Haitian Times reported. About 15 people took part.

Konpa music, dancing and photos set the tone. Ohio State Representative Latyna M. Humphrey, a candidate for the Ohio Senate, linked the recent end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians to the importance of political representation, telling the crowd: “Your voice matters, your vote matters.” Columbus City Council member Tierra Ross said: “The Haitian community is our community.”

Lauren Morgan, political director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, called for solidarity through action rather than symbols. She recalled a recent visit to Springfield for the memorial of Pierre Damas Bel, a Haitian man who died by suicide after an immigration ankle monitor left him distraught, the newspaper reported.

Organizers said the event was open to everyone, including people who cannot vote, and encouraged non-voters to stay involved by learning about the issues, attending community events and contacting their elected officials. Only eligible registered voters, including U.S. citizens, can cast a ballot.