People of faith: please sign this urgent letter to the Attorney General Xavier Becerra concerning the human rights abuses and deteriorating conditions inside the Adelanto Detention Facility, and other ICE facilities. Sign on before June 26!
We are faith leaders, ministers, rabbis, imams, and people of faith from across California. Our primary concern today is those whose lives are impacted by immigration detention in our state. Many of us are engaged in supporting the families of people detained who are seeking reunification with their loved ones. As a network of sanctuary and immigrant supporting congregations, we also provide support to people upon release. We write with urgent concern about the human rights abuses and deteriorating conditions inside the Adelanto Detention Facility, and other ICE facilities, and are seeking your support as Attorney General. [Read the full letter…]
We are concerned about the following violations of human rights and dignity:
Failure to follow CDC guidelines to prevent COVID-19 from spreading
Spraying toxic chemicals inside detention centers to “disinfect”
Investigate recent deaths inside detention
GEO violating and operating above the law
Adelanto Detention Facility, and other private detention centers, are sites of pain and suffering for our immigrant neighbors and a hazard to public safety and public health. We demand care and compassion, dignity and mercy.
This past weekend, we received a video from the men in Dorm C inside Mesa Verde. They wanted to let the world know that they stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement. Though they cannot be out on the streets with us, they are protesting the violence against Black Lives through a hunger strike led by Black immigrants. This is the 1st Black Lives Matter protest in ICE detention.
Dorm C’s hunger strike is in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement, and against the system that kills, incarcerates, and detains Black lives.
They highlight the criminal justice system’s clear disregard of human life. They demand change in our police, prisons, immigration and criminal justice systems that are not designed to foster nor protect life.
The criminal justice system is based on racism, resulting in thedisproportionate murder, incarceration and detention of the Black community. True immigration reform is interlocked with the Black Lives Matter Movement. We support Dorm C’s vision of a world without racism, bars, and borders. Help Project Their Voices by: 1: Share this video: On Twitter, Facebook, and InstagramVideo Link: https://bit.ly/UnitedInLiberation 2: Tag Governor Newsom and Attorney General Becerra in post:Governor Gavin Newsom: @GavinNewsomAttorney General Xavier Becerra: @AGBecerra 3: Create or use Sample messages advocating for Black Lives and liberation:Black immigrants lead 1st protest for #BlackLivesMatter inside detention. Listen to their message against a system that kills, incarcerates, and detains Black lives. @GavinNewsom end ICE transfers, increase clemencies, & stop ICE expansion. #FreeThemAllhttps://youtu.be/QlQnjqDPkMw Stand with Black immigrants protesting inside detention.End rampant policing & incarceration that impacts Black communities @GavinNewsom and @AGBecerra investigate deadly #COVID19 conditions in prisons, jails and detention.#FreeThemAll. #BlackLivesMatter https://youtu.be/QlQnjqDPkMw True immigration reform is interlocked with Black Lives Matter. We support Black Immigrants & their message for a world without racism, bars, and borders. @GavinNewsom act now to save lives. #BlackLivesMatter #FreeThemAll https://youtu.be/QlQnjqDPkMw For 2 weeks advocates have been waiting on @GovNewsom to stop being complicit with private prison co’s and ICE despite signing AB32. Black Immigrants share this message from inside detention calling on @GavinNewsom to save lives. #BlackLivesMatter #FreeThemAll https://youtu.be/QlQnjqDPkMw
Want to do more?
Art by: Jada Wong. Information on how to access free print of graphic at bottom of email.
LEARN: On May 29th we held a faith-rooted organizing webinar on “Ending Life Without Parole”. Learn what Life Without Parole means and the ways you can participate in bringing this inhumane sentencing to an end.
PARTICIPATE: Our organizers will be sharing and creating ways we can respond locally as an interfaith community to the evolving situation. To learn about ways you can get involved, contact our local organizers: Bay Area: Gala King | Gking@im4humanintegrity.org Los Angeles: Reverend Dr. Larry Foy | Lfoy@im4humanintegrity.org Inland Empire: Hilda Cruz | Hcruz@im4humanintegrity.org
INVEST IN BLACK ORGANIZERS: Black-led organizations and organizers need our financial support. Below are a few ways you can invest in protecting the dignity of Black lives and support the long-term movement.National Bail Fund:Protest leaders across the country are being targeted for arrest by police. Help bond out local protesters in your community, by using this searchable bond relief website.Donate to Black Lives Matter: Sustain the Black Lives Matter Movement to end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever.Justice Not Jails: Donate to IM4HI’s Justice Not Jails program. Justice Not Jails meets monthly as faith and community leaders to organize for criminal justice reform, law enforcement accountability and changing the landscape of incarceration in Los Angeles.
How to Receive a Free “Justice for George” PrintFor a donation of $10 or more to any of these or other groups, you can receive a Free Print of Justice for George donated by the artist Jada Wong. Send a receipt of your donation of $10 or more to Jada and she will send you a complimentary print. Contact Jada through email: jadawong20@gmail.com, Instagram @jadawongg, or on FB @Jada Wong.
“Dear Community: We’d like to offer this prayer to you, in light of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police. Our hearts are broken and heavy…” [read more]
From our executive director, Reverend Deborah Lee: A prayer to affirm our commitment to the sacredness of Black lives, and a call for racial equity and substantive social change where Black lives are treated as sacred, with love, and the upholding of justice.
In this defining political moment, where the pattern of racial, economic and military violence in this country is laid bare, we invite you to learn, participate and invest in creating a world that truly regards Black lives as sacred.
Art by Jada Wong. Information on how to access free print of graphic below.
LEARN: On May 29th we held a faith-rooted organizing webinar on “Ending Life Without Parole”. Learn what Life Without Parole means and the ways you can participate in bringing this inhumane sentencing to an end. PARTICIPATE: Our organizers will be sharing and creating ways we can respond locally as an interfaith community to the evolving situation. To learn about ways you can get involved, contact our local organizers:
INVEST IN BLACK ORGANIZERS: Black-led organizations and organizers need our financial support. Below are a few ways you can invest in protecting the dignity of Black lives and support the long-term movement.
National Bail Fund:Protest leaders across the country are being targeted for arrest by police. Help bond out local protesters in your community, by using this searchable bond relief website.
Donate to Black Lives Matter: Sustain the Black Lives Matter Movement to end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever.
Justice Not Jails: Donate to IM4HI’s Justice Not Jails program. Justice Not Jails meets monthly as faith and community leaders to organize for criminal justice reform, law enforcement accountability and changing the landscape of incarceration in Los Angeles.
How to Receive a Free “Justice for George” Print: For a donation of $10 or more to any of these or other groups, you can receive a Free Print of Justice for George donated by the artist Jada Wong. Send a receipt of your donation of $10 or more to Jada and she will send you a complimentary print. Contact Jada through Instagram @jadawongg, or on FB @Jada Wong.
Ways to Engage This Week:
Join us for two events this week that remember and honor the lives lost by police violence and of COVID-19 while incarcerated. Uplift their memories and participate in change.
#RoseFromConcrete
Friday June 5th | 8am-4pm
Hall of Justice: 211 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Honor the lives that have been lost to police violence and the people that continue suffering inside of LA County jails.
This event is organized by Justice LA. They ask everyone to deliver arose to the steps of the Hall of Justice representing one life taken from our communities at the hands of law enforcements. 12,000 roses, 12,000 cracks.
#HonorLivesLost
Online Candle-Lighting Ritual Sunday June 7th | 8pm Join Here: bit.ly/honorliveslost We are co-hosting an online weekly candle-lighting ritual to uplift incarcerated people we have lost to COVID-19 and #DeathbyIncarceration in California.
#HonorLivesLost is a network of organizers and advocates dedicated to memorializing and uplifting incarcerated people we lose to COVID-19 and #DeathbyIncarceration in California. Share the Facebook Event
