by Jane Piirto
 |
| Pierre Damas Bel at his high school graduation. —The New York Times, September 1, 2026 via Pierre Damas Bel's family |
He was 20.
Majoring in neuroscience at Wright State University.
Graduated with honors from Springfield, OH high school.
A hopeful soccer athlete.
When ICE put an ankle monitor on him
because his parents and he are Haitians
he told his father he was teased by friends and teammates.
On 9/1/26 he walked into traffic on I-70 and died.
The Haitians must go to beautifully named
but sinisterly provocative Blue Ash to sign in.
They take your name and info and snap on
a GPS. Over 100 have these monitors.
Over 40 Haitians have been detained
including two pastors. Gov. DeWine
said the actions are “very misguided.”
“I came here to study, to build my future,
and to live a better life not to be treated like a criminal.
So now, how am I supposed to play college sports
with a GPS monitor on my leg?”
His name was Pierre Damas Bel.
Dr. Jane Piirto is an Ohio and Michigan poet and retired professor from Ashland University.
