[Pnews] 2nd wave of hunger strikes begin at Northwest Detention Center

[Prisoner News]

March 25, 2014


Second Wave of Hunger Strikes Begin at Northwest Detention Center


Tacoma WA - Immigrants held at the Northwest Detention Center are once 
again adding their voices to the mounting outcry for President Obama to 
stop deportations. Seeing little change in their conditions following 
the hunger strike that began on March 7th, about 70 people rejoined the 
hunger strike on Monday, March 24th. Hearing of others rejoining the 
strike, hunger strike leader Ramon Mendoza Pascual began eating after 
more than two weeks of fasting. Jesus Gaspar Navarro remains in 
isolation after 20 days on hunger strike.

When visiting with hunger strikers on Monday, attorney Angelica Chazaro 
learned of a suicide attempt in the facility that occurred around 9 a.m. 
that morning. A witness to the attempt who spoke to Chazaro described 
seeing a man hanging over a second floor railing with a sheet tied 
around his neck. The man was pulled back over the railing, and taken out 
of the facility on a stretcher. Detainees heard a helicopter leaving the 
facility shortly thereafter. The witness reported to Chazaro that guards 
informed him and other detainees that the man was still breathing, and 
that he was taken to the hospital. "This case underscores our deep 
concern at the treatment of those held in the detention center, as well 
as the importance of the hunger strike in bringing this treatment to 
light. The fact that this person was detained when he attempted suicide 
means that ICE and GEO Group officials hold some responsibility for his 
attempt," Chazaro said.


On Sunday, Jeff Johnson, president of the Washington State Labor 
Council, and Tefere Gebre, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO, 
joined the daily presence outside the detention center to express their 
support for those held inside and add their voices to the growing outcry 
for the President to stop deportations. They vowed to help spread the 
word of this protest.


That same day GEO Group vans unloaded dozens of detained women into the 
detention center, while hunger strike supporters looked on through the 
chain link fence, chanting, "You are not alone!"  Up to 200 people, 
mostly women, many of whom are seeking asylum, are transferred from the 
U.S.-Mexico border to the Northwest Detention Center each month.


#


Jolinda Stephens
jolindast at gmail.com <mailto:jolindast at gmail.com>


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