At least seven people were killed in Haiti on Saturday, according to local rights group CARDH. A gang controlling a northern suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, opened fire with machine guns on a protest organized by a Christian church leader. Local media reports suggest that the death toll might be higher. Several people were wounded and some churchgoers were even kidnapped. Videos shared on social media show the chaos and violence that ensued during the protest. The incident has shed light on the presence of civilian self-defense groups in Haiti. Many Haitians have joined these groups, known as ‘Bwa Kale’, which have sparked fears of escalating violence and retaliation against civilians.