Fast and Rally at Northwest Detention Center

For immediate release:

Contact: Maru Mora Villalpando (206) 251-6658 | Jolinda Stephens (614) 915-4079

Fathers’ Day Fast and Rally at Northwest Detention Center

WHAT: Rally and Report from the Morning’s People’s Movement Assembly

WHEN: Saturday, June 14, 1 pm

WHERE; Northwest Detention Center, Tacoma, WA

WHO:  Hunger strike leaders, families of those detained in the immigration prison and migration justice groups from around the Pacific Northwest

HIGHLIGHTS: Details of the actions plans developed by local groups in collaboration with detention and migration justice groups in the U. S., Canada, Spain and England; Fathers Day Fast announced.

About 100 families separated by the deportation machine and groups working to bring justice to the immigration system will meet in Tacoma Saturday morning, June 14. They will be joined via Skype with groups from the U. S. and around the world, including the Detention Watch Network (DC), Conroe TX detention center supporters, No One Is Illegal of Toronto, No CIEs of Valencia and Madrid (Spain), Bill of Rights Defense Committee and the National Day Laborers Organizing Network. They will share the work they are doing and develop shared strategies to address the crisis facing families torn apart by immigration practices. The rally will include reports from that assembly, as well a music loud enough to be heard inside the immigration prison and phone calls from inside which may announce a new hunger strike.

On the eve of the celebration of family, Fathers’ Day, the rally will support all those separated from their families. “We are doing all of this to make the President understand and to finally do something,” remarked Veronica Noriega, wife of hunger strike leader Ramon Mendoza Pascual. “We would like the President to explain to all of our children why they can’t hug their parents this Fathers’ Day. How would he tell them that he is deporting their parents. Everyone talks about the economy. They talk about the border, but they don’t talk about the children who won’t be able to hug their parents this Fathers’ Day. Enough! Not one more!”

Despite concerted efforts by Geo and ICE to impede organizing, Colectiva de Detenidos NWDC is organizing a Fathers’ Day Fast. We expect to hear from some of those leaders at the rally.

The Peoples Movement Assembly in planning for several weeks is meeting at a politically crucial time. “With the defeat of Cong. Cantor, the President has lost his excuse to delay desperately needed relief for undocumented immigrants. There now remains not one ray of hope that Congress will pass the Senate bill or any version of it for several years,” said Maru Mora Villalpando, one of the assembly organizers. “We cannot wait any longer. The country cannot wait any longer. The great majority of the American people are generous and welcoming to immigrants. It is time for President Obama to act. No more excuses.”

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Petition on behalf of Hunger Strikers and latest releases available at:www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/03/10/detention-hunger-strike/

Fund to support the families of human rights hunger strikers:http://www.gofundme.com/7orehg