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For immediate release:
July 28, 2014
Contact: Alex West
(508) 246-8341
Rally, 75 Hour Hunger Strike to Begin at the Detention Center
Leading up to Mass Demonstration in DC
Tacoma, WA--In support of a mass mobilization in Washington, DC
on August 2, those inside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC)
have planned a 75 hour long hunger strike beginning on
Wednesday, July 30. Actions are planned throughout the US on
August 2 and the days before in order to call attention to the
President’s inaction on immigration reform and to demand an
immediate end to deportations. Undocumented leaders will travel
to DC to demand that the President meet directly with those most
affected, saying, “no more meetings about us without us!”
Several activists from the Seattle area, including Veronica
Noriega, wife of hunger strike leader Ramon Mendoza Pascual,
will travel to DC to add their voices to these demands.
Former and currently undocumented immigrant leaders formed a
Blue Ribbon Commission to perform an independent review of the
White House directive to make deportation policies “more humane”
and present its recommendations to the President in a 14 Point
Plan. Among the recommendations are a broad expansion of
deferred action, an end to law enforcement’s collaboration with
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and significant
improvement to conditions inside detention centers. Activists
are also calling for an end to the militarization of the border
with Mexico and an expanded definition of “family” in all types
of immigration relief, including LGBTQ individuals and families
in deferred action proceedings.
The NWDC continues to serve as an important and inspirational
site for the struggle of undocumented immigrants, having been
one of the locations where ICE and GEO Group vans carrying
people about to be deported were stopped by undocumented
activists and allies in February, sparking a massive hunger
strike in the facility that lasted for months. Those in the NWDC
have continued to organize, forming a collective of detainees to
combat deplorable conditions inside. In July, problems in the
facility’s kitchen led to a week of only cold food. Many
detainees report not receiving enough food and only being served
food of poor quality.
In solidarity with the massive march and rally in Washington,
DC, activists, families, and community members will come
together for a rally and speak out outside the NWDC in Tacoma at
1pm on August 2. The event will include historical tours of the
detention center, street theater, letter writing to detainees,
and a march, in addition to hearing directly from individuals
currently being held captive inside the Detention Center. The
Blue Ribbon Commission’s 14 Point Plan to end deportations will
also be presented, as leaders in Tacoma make connections with
organizers across the country and beyond.
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Fund to support the families of human rights hunger strikers:
http://www.gofundme.com/7orehg
For more information about August 2nd mobilization:
http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/07/07/august2/
Blue Ribbon Commission's 14 Points:
http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/04/10/not1morebrc/
Jolinda Stephens
jolindast@gmail.com |