Photo: Ryan Garza ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
DETROIT, March 13, 2024 ~ 760 WJR host and Detroit Free Press columnist, Mitch Albom, along with nine others, was successfully rescued from the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage in Haiti after being stranded there due to escalating violence and lawlessness.
The evacuation, orchestrated by U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Michigan), involved a daring helicopter operation. Albom, who runs the orphanage, expressed gratitude to those who helped facilitate their escape. The situation in Haiti remains unstable, with Albom urging U.S. leaders to take more active measures to assist the country.
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March 13, 2024 ~ WJR host and Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom, along with other volunteers, was evacuated last night in a harrowing helicopter rescue from an orphanage in Haiti amidst growing gang violence in that country. Also, the plight of Americans and Canadians still stranded in Haiti, implications of President Biden’s and former President Trump’s now secured nominations, Robert Hur’s congressional testimony in the Biden classified documents probe, and Oakland University claims the Horizon League championship, placing the Golden Grizzlies in the NCAA Tournament.
(CONTINUED) Albom went to Haiti a few weeks back to visit the orphanage that he has run since 2010. The visit came months after earthquakes ravaged the country’s infrastructure, killing at least 100,000 and contributing to the nation’s escalating poverty and continued unrest.
Shortly after Albom’s arrival, the Haitian government declared a state of emergency following two mass prison breaks in the country spurred by gang violence. On Tuesday, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced plans to resign in the hopes that a coming leadership change would help curb the violence.
Albom was held up at the orphanage for more than a week as gang violence ran rampant throughout the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. All the while, efforts were underway stateside to help Mitch and his team escape.
“I literally was on the phone, and my staff was on the phone all afternoon,” Rep. Lisa McClain said today on “All Talk with Tom Jordan and Kevin Dietz.” “We couldn’t get in touch with anyone … they (the government) weren’t helping.“
“So I called (U.S. Rep.) Cory Mills (R-Florida), who was a dear friend of mine who helped in Israel … (and) Afghanistan do the same thing, and I said, ‘hey, buddy,’ I need your help.“
“Corey didn’t ask me what party they were. He asked me one question. He said, ‘are these people important to you?’ And I said, ‘yes.’ And he said, ‘let’s go do this,’ So we did.“
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