Anderson Cooper Reflects on the 1987 Assassination of His Haitian Educator Yves Volel
Correspondent Anderson Cooper shares the story of his former math teacher, Yves Volel, who was assassinated while running for president of Haiti. The connection highlights the ongoing volatility in Port-au-Prince, where current gang violence keeps students confined to secure enclaves.
Key takeaways
- Anderson Cooper's high school math teacher, Yves Volel, was assassinated in 1987 during his Haitian presidential campaign.
- Volel was a vocal critic of the military-backed interim government and sought the return of stolen public funds.
- Current gang violence in Port-au-Prince has confined children in the Have Faith Haiti orphanage to their compound for four years.
- The 1987 assassination was captured on audio despite police attempts to suppress media recordings of the event.
What Happened
During a report on the Have Faith Haiti orphanage, Anderson Cooper detailed his personal history with the country, centered on his former algebra teacher, Yves Volel. While teaching at The Dalton School in New York City during the 1980s, Volel actively mobilized Haitian expatriates to support political change in his home nation. Volel eventually returned to Haiti to contest the 1987 general election, seeking to replace the military-backed interim government led by Henri Namphy.
On October 13, 1987, Volel was shot and killed while addressing members of the media outside a police station. Though authorities ordered journalists to destroy evidence of the event, audio of the moments surrounding the assassination was preserved and broadcast. Cooper, who graduated high school two years prior to the killing, cited the event as a significant factor in his pursuit of international reporting.
Background
The political climate of 1987 was defined by tension between the interim National Council of Government (CNG) and those seeking to recover public funds allegedly stolen by the former Duvalier regime. Prior to his death, Volel had survived an earlier attempt on his life when his vehicle was strafed by gunfire. He identified himself as a target due to his vocal opposition to the CNG and his demands for the repatriation of state wealth to fund domestic labor.
Current Situation
Contemporary Haiti faces a security crisis that Cooper describes as the most dangerous he has witnessed in decades of travel to the region. In Port-au-Prince, the Have Faith Haiti orphanage, founded by author Mitch Albom, serves as a high-security refuge for children. Due to pervasive gang violence outside the walls, most residents have not left the compound in four years. Despite the instability, the mission has successfully facilitated scholarships for 17 graduates to attend American universities, aiming to cultivate a new generation of Haitian leadership.
Key Facts
- Yves Volel taught algebra at The Dalton School in New York City before returning to Haiti to run for president.
- Volel was assassinated on October 13, 1987, outside a police station while speaking to reporters.
- CBS News broadcast audio of the assassination despite police orders to destroy all recordings at the scene.
- The Have Faith Haiti orphanage currently houses children who have been unable to leave the facility for four years due to security risks.
- Gunfire is frequently heard by students and staff within the orphanage courtyard in Port-au-Prince.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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