January 18, 2011

Photos: Cops Take Baby Doc Away

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Earlier today, Haitian police led former strongman Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier out of his hotel in Port-au-Prince. They wouldn’t say if he was under arrest, but took him to the city courthouse, where he’s currently still inside. MoJo photo editor Mark Murrmann was there as Duvalier (in suit and tie) arrived at the courthouse and sent these photos. Check back here for updates or follow Mac McClelland on Twitter, where she’s reporting live from the scene as protesters set tire fires and a crowd waits to find out what’s happening: “We’re all waiting for Baby Doc to come out the courthouse door he went in.”

Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier being lead into the Port-au-Prince courthouse. Photo by Mark MurrmannJean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier being led into the Port-au-Prince courthouse. Photos by Mark Murrmann

Masked police officers outside the courthouse.Masked police officers outside the hotel where Duvalier was staying.

Duvalier waves from the balcony of his hotel before being taken into custody.Duvalier waves from the balcony of his hotel before being taken into custody.

Duvalier supporters react as police take him from his hotel to the courthouse.Duvalier supporters react as police take him from his hotel to the courthouse.

As a motorcade takes Baby Doc away, supporters run alongside.As a motorcade takes Baby Doc away, supporters run alongside.A supporter holds a photo of a younger, more powerful Baby Doc.A photo of Baby Doc in happier times.

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WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

“This could be the first time a corporation would be held criminally liable for forced labor in their own supply chains,” according to a retired special agent we talked to.

Wow.

And it is only because Mother Jones is funded primarily by donations from readers that we can mount ambitious, yearlong—or more—investigations like these two stories that are making waves.

About that: It’s unfathomably hard in the news business right now, and we came up about $28,000 short during our recent fall fundraising campaign. We simply have to make that up soon to avoid falling further behind than can be made up for, or needing to somehow trim $1 million from our budget, like happened last year.

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