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<div>April 3, 2014
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span
style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">ACLU Files for Injunction
To End Retaliation Again NWDC Hunger Strikers</span></b> <br>
</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tacoma, WA - Yesterday the ACLU
of Washington
filed a temporary restraining order and an injunction on behalf of
those being
held in solitary confinement in retaliation for engaging in a hunger
strike.
“Rather than respond to the concerns expressed by detainees,” the
motion says, “United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) threw individual hunger strikers into solitary
confinement
after falsely promising them that they would meet to talk about the
detainees’
concerns. ICE’s arbitrary, retaliatory actions continue to violate the
First
Amendment rights of the Plaintiffs and other detainees who remain in
segregation.” They are seeking an immediate release from solitary
confinement
and a prohibition of “any further retaliation against detainees
engaging in
protected speech.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The lead plaintiffs in the
lawsuit are Andres
Ramirez-Martinez, Manuel Uriostegui, and Ericson Gonzales but relief is
sought
on behalf of all who are held in solitary for engaging in protected
free
speech, including engaging in a hunger strike. ICE has continued to
place those
on hunger strike in solitary confinement since the March 27th incident
cited in
the motion. Others in isolation include Jesus Gaspar Navarro who was
removed
from medical isolation to solitary immediately after ending a 25-day
hunger
strike; </span><span
style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Cambria;">Ramon
Mendoza Pascual who was just “convicted” of
charges stemming from the fast in a hearing in which one ICE officer
served as
translator, witness and adjudicator; and Army Vet </span><span>Hassall
Moses, who is charged with inciting a work stoppage. Work is
compensated at $1 per day and ICE and Geo, the owner/operator of the
NWDC,
allege that the work is voluntary.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The hearing on the temporary
restraining order is
set for 9:30 am on Friday April 4 at the Federal Court in Tacoma. The
petitions
cite case law that all people in the U.S. are entitled to freedom of
speech. We
refer you to the ACLU for details about the legal matters.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The facts as outlined in the
complaint are as we
reported earlier this week. Mr. Uriostegui says in his sworn
statement, “On Thursday, March 27, 2014, several
corrections officers entered the F-3 unit while many of us were on
hunger
strike. They told another detainee to come with them for a meeting with
an
assistant warden. The detainee left with the officers.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then the officers returned. Mr
Uriostegui continues,
“Many of the remaining hunger striking detainees in the unit asked the
officers
if they too could join the meeting because they had their own reasons
for
joining the hunger strike and wanted to have the same opportunity to
convey
those reasons as the detainees who were selected to attend the meeting.
A
corrections officer agreed and then started to identify detainees who
would
also be allowed to attend the meeting.” Mr. Uriostegui was among those
who
asked to speak with the assistant warden.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Mr. Uriostegui says he was
tricked. “As soon as
we were outside of the F-3 unit, I was handcuffed me and placed in
administrative segregation where I am locked in an isolation cell for
23 hours
a day. My cell has a bed, sink, and toilet and is not very big... I am
also
only allowed to shower three days a week and cannot participate in
programming.
I was not told why I was placed in administrative segregation, or if or
when I
would be released from segregation.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Eventually all three were given
an administrative
detention order without the required supporting evidence that charged
them with
being a “security risk” to themselves or the facility. The forms for
all three
state that they were identified by the staff intimidating others to
engage in
the hunger strike. Yet most of those who
volunteered to talk with the assistant warden. All three deny under
oath
that they intimidated others. Mr. Ramirez-Martinez was a food porter in
his
unit and he continued to serve meals even while he was fasting.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span
style="font-family: Georgia;">#</span> <br>
</p>
<p><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Petition
on behalf of Hunger Strikers and latest releases available at:</span></i><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/03/10/detention-hunger-strike/"
target="_blank"><i><span> </span></i></a><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/03/10/detention-hunger-strike/"
target="_blank"><i><span>www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/03/10/detention-hunger-strike/</span></i></a></p>
<p><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Fund to
support the families of human rights hunger strikers:</span></i><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.gofundme.com/7orehg"
target="_blank"><i><span> </span></i></a><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.gofundme.com/7orehg" target="_blank"><i><span
style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">http://www.gofundme.com/7orehg</span></i></a></p>
<p><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">April 5
Not1More Deportation Rally in support of the NWDC Human Rights Leaders -</span></i><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.facebook.com/Not1MoreTacoma/posts/241708986031832"
target="_blank"><i><span> </span></i></a><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.facebook.com/Not1MoreTacoma/posts/241708986031832"
target="_blank"><i><span>https://www.facebook.com/Not1MoreTacoma/posts/241708986031832</span></i></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><br>
</p>
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<div>
<div><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Maru Mora Villalpando</font></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Latino Advocacy</font></font></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.latinoadvocacy.org"
target="_blank">www.latinoadvocacy.org</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:206-251-6658"
value="+12062516658" target="_blank">206-251-6658</a></div>
<div><img src="cid:part1.06000800.02010605@freedomarchives.org"
type="image/png"></div>
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