Wackenhut hunger strike: press conference
When: Monday, August 16th 2004, 4pm
Where: 26 Federal Plaza on Broadway between Duane and
Worth (Manhattan)
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2004 15:45:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ahsanullah khan
Subject: August 16 Wackenhut hunger strike: press conference at 26 Federal
Plaza
PRESS ADVISORY
Date: August 14th 2004
Contact: Madiha Tahir, Coney Island Avenue Project, (609) 439-1982
DETAINEES BEGIN HUNGER STRIKE TO DEMAND RIGHTS
200 immigrant detainees, who have been held despite
the absence of criminal charges against them, will
begin a one-day hunger strike at Wackenhut Detention
Center in Queens to demand a case review and immediate
release of non-criminal prisoners.
What: A press conference to announce a one day hunger
strike by 200 immigrant detainees at Wackenhut
Detention Center to demand the right to humane
treatment, the right to due process, the right to
access appropriate medical healthcare, the right to
case review and immediate release of non-criminal
prisoners, and family reunification. Speakers will
include families of detainees and immigrants rights
advocates.
When: Monday, August 16th 2004, 4pm.
Where: 26 Federal Plaza on Broadway between Duane and
Worth (Manhattan)
More Information:
None of the prisoners currently being held at
Wackenhut Detention Center have any terrorism related
or other criminal charges against them. Yet, they are
locked for 23 hours per day and several have been
there for close to a year or more. These detainees
were picked up in the aftermath of 9.11 and have been
held without criminal charge or due process, and in
some cases, without access to a lawyer or access to
appropriate food and medical healthcare. Several of
the detainees are married to US citizens.
The government refuses to release information on
immigrant detentions. None of the immigrant detentions
since 9.11 have yielded any useful results for Bush’s
“war on terror.”
Private detention centers, of which Wackenhut is one,
are earning large profits from the detention of
immigrants and the current climate of racism against
Arabs, Muslims, South Asians and immigrants generally.
For example, detainees are being pressured to buy
cafeteria food as the food served at the center is
often insufficient and inadequate.
A previous hunger strike by inmates at Wackenhut ended
with some prisoners being thrown in solitary
confinement while others were transferred to other
detention centers. That strike occurred approximately
a year ago.
FAMILIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW.
For more information:
Coney Island Avenue Project, 718-859-0238 or 917-440-9002
