Heartened by Rally Outside, Detainees Continue Strike for Better Treatment

Now on the fifth day of hunger strike, detainees continue to demand better treatment at the Tacoma Detention Center run for profit by the GEO Group.  Inspired by a civil disobedience that turned back deportation buses in weeks past, detainees initiated their own organizing to improve food and fairness in the facility they accuse of cutting corners and violating rights to make more money off their imprisonment.

GEO Group and ICE immediately retaliated against strikers, placing at least 20 in “the hole” and threatening to force feed others in an attempt to silence the unprecedented activity that caught global attention.  Film makers have arrived from Canada and reports of the strike have been made throughout Europe, embarrassing the Federal Government at a time when it is attempting to portray itself as a defender of human rights that insists upon other countries.

Yesterday 200 people, including family members of the strikers, rallied outside the facility and chanted within earshot of the detainees in solidarity with their effort; urging the corporation and ICE to negotiate to meet their simple demands.

Maru Mora of Latino Advocacy explained, “The federal government is turning our families over to a corporation that’s driving their treatment down in order to drive their profits up.  But human dignity is not a line item on a balance sheet.  We will stand with the detainees and ensure their request for fair treatment is met. To have the world see how badly immigrants are being treated here reflects very badly on a President who sees himself as the champion-in-chief.”

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