HONORING THE LATE VITER JUSTE

On 2026-07-14, Representative Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL-24) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LATE VITER JUSTE" in the House.

HONORING THE LATE VITER JUSTE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E688-E689] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LATE VITER JUSTE ______ HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District, of the great state of Florida. I rise today to recognize and honor the late Haitian activist, pioneer, community leader and businessman, Viter Juste. Mr. Juste was active in the development of Miami's ``Little Haiti'' community and helped thousands of Haitian immigrants assimilate into life in South Florida in the early 80s. As Haitian immigrants arrived and settled into South Florida, in the 80s, Juste fought against discrimination against Haitians and was successful in getting a reversal of a Miami-Dade School Board decision that prohibited the enrollment of undocumented Haitian students. He also started an adult- education program, where he taught English to new arrivals. Mr. Juste is one of the founders and was the first chairmen of the Haitian-American Community Association of Dade, which was one of the first social-service agencies dedicated to the Haitian community. As a businessman, Mr. Juste established one of the first Haitian- owned businesses in the community. He opened a French-and-Creole- Language records and bookstore called [[Page E689]] Les Cousins Records and Books. He went on to publish a French-Ianguage 12-page weekly newspaper. He was born December 15, 1924, in La Gonave, an island off mainland Haiti. Mr. Juste arrived in South Florida with his wife and children in 1973, after spending a few years in New York. Please join me in honoring the late Viter Juste for his commitment, dedication and many years of distinguished service in Miami-Dade County. ____________________