Follow workers.org on
|
Georgia march protests death of detainee
Published Dec 3, 2009 10:00 PM
Some 100 people gathered at the town square in Lumpkin, Ga., on Nov. 20 to
protest the conditions at the nearby Stewart Detention Center, a privately
owned prison that holds 1,800 immigrants awaiting deportation. Operated by the
for-profit Corrections Corporation of America, the facility is located almost
two miles outside of Lumpkin in an isolated area.
Following a series of speeches by immigrant rights activists and a former
employee of the detention center, the crowd marched to the gates of the prison,
where three large buses blocked the view of the complex. Undeterred, the
protesters held a memorial service for Roberto Martinez Medina, a 39-year-old
worker from Mexico who died in March from a treatable heart infection after his
pleas for medical assistance were ignored by prison staff. More than 100
immigrants have died while in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in
the last few years.
The action was organized by the Georgia Detention Watch and supported by
numerous groups, including the SOA Watch.
—Dianne Mathiowetz
Articles copyright 1995-2011 Workers World.
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news DONATE
|
|
Email this article
Print