December 10, Central Falls – Never Again Northeast Action: Rhode Island
We’re taking to the streets in the Northeast and the Midwest to shut down the Wyatt ICE Detention Center in Rhode Island. Why the Wyatt? Because the fight to shut down the Wyatt *is* the fight to shut down ICE. Here’s why:
In 2008, Hiu Lui “Jason” Ng died after the Wyatt ICE guards denied him medical attention. They left him to rot, as he suffered from a fractured spine and liver cancer, and wasn’t taken to a hospital until it was far too late.
The ACLU sued the Wyatt for “cruel, inhumane, malicious and sadistic behavior.” The New York Times Editorial Board called it “a story of shocking neglect.” The publicity was so bad, *ICE* refused to keep working with the Wyatt and cancelled the contract.
9 months ago, ICE renewed their relationship with the Wyatt. There was an immediate outcry: AMOR RI – Alianza para Movilizar Nuestra Resistencia mobilized, and the mayor of Central Falls, RI, spoke out “as the Wyatt attempts to profit from the exploitation of human misery.”
The people rose up…
And it worked! The city of Central Falls cut ties with the Wyatt, with an eye towards shutting it down. The board of the Wyatt voted to suspend its contract with ICE, and ordered the warden to stop keeping any ICE detainees locked up inside.
But then…
In came the vultures at UMB Bank, based in Kansas City, representing investors in the Wyatt. They sued the city of Central Falls to force the Wyatt to keep working with ICE, so investors could keep profiting and wouldn’t suffer “the waste of collateral.”
So the Wyatt stayed open and ICE’s captives stayed locked up.
And that’s when Never Again Action RI came on the scene. Side by side with @amornetwork, we brought hundreds of people to the Wyatt in July and shut it down.
We started planning for August.
We came back in August with 400 people. We blocked the entrances. We blocked the parking lots.
And that’s when Captain Woodworth arrived in his truck and decided to run us over to get into the parking lot.There were injuries. It was horrific.
Then guards rushed out of the Wyatt and pepper sprayed us with no warning, on the public sidewalk. We saw a sliver of the violence that takes place behind the walls of the Wyatt, with complete impunity.
Since then we’ve taken the fight to the Wyatt’s Board of Directors. They cancelled their August meeting and then rescheduled it for Shabbat. 200 of us showed up, held a Shabbat service, and shut it down.
But the Wyatt Board has decided it’s their duty to do whatever makes the Wyatt profitable, no matter what that means for the people locked inside or the people of Central Falls, who want the Wyatt out of their community. It’s the logic of atrocities.
So it’s up to us. On December 10th we’re going after the Wyatt’s ability to function on the ground, and we’re putting heat on UMB Bank in Kansas City, the profiteers keeping the ICE contract in place. There are 3 reasons you should come: NeverAgainAction.com/TakeAction
1. It’s a moral emergency.
Remember Hiu Lui Ng, who died because the Wyatt wouldn’t get him medical attention? Nothing’s changed.
In July a man was being denied treatment. He decided the only way to get it was to sow his own lips shut with metal wire.
2. The story of the Wyatt is the story of the system.
Documented abuse, families torn apart, violent guards.
Relatives & activists trying desperately to save people inside while investors profit off the pain.
When we shine a light on the Wyatt, we shine a light on the system.
3. It’s strategic.
We build power by showing that when people come together, we win. Rhode Islanders have been fighting, they have momentum, and with our help they can provide inspiration and a blueprint for others around the country to follow.
Here’s how you can help:
🔥 Go to Rhode Island: www.neveragainaction.com/RI
🔥 Go to Kansas City: www.neveragainaction.com/KC
🔥 Make a #GivingTuesday donation: www.neveragainaction.com/actionfund
We’ve seen this before.
We’re not saying the camps are the same. We’re saying we have to fight before it’s too late. And on Tuesday, the fight will be at the Wyatt.
December 10, Central Falls – Never Again Northeast Action:… SOURCE: antifainternational.tumblr.com]]>
