Get the spotlight on hunger strikes at Adelanto detention camp
Over the last 24 hours, we’ve learned via local activists and independent journalist Nick Valencia that approximately 20 detainees being held at the notorious Adelanto ICE Processing Center are on a hunger strike. In their press release, they reported already being in poor health and underfed due to staff neglect, and are demanding due process, bond reform, improved conditions, adequate medical and mental health care, decent food, accountability for deaths at the facility and the right to organize and communicate.
At least four people - Ismael Ayala-Uribe, Gabriel Garcia-Aviles, Alberto Gutierrez Reyes and Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano - have died while being held at this GEO Group-run detention camp in San Bernadino County, California since September, with multiple accusations of staff denying folks necessary medical care. Detainees have reported physical and sexual abuse, said they’ve been refused a change of clothes, underwear or towels, and advocates have reported inadequate access to clean food and water and other unsafe and unsanitary conditions. It’s been the subject of multiple federal investigations and civil rights lawsuits, and the California Attorney General’s office has found staffing has failed to keep up with the growing number of detainees.
Families of migrants held at Adelanto and advocates are holding a virtual press conference tomorrow, May 20th, at 10AM ET/7AM PT. We’re being asked to help get more coverage of this hunger strike and detainees’ demand for the center to be shut down. Let’s do our part! We can reach out to local outlets to urge them to cover this protest, such as:
· Los Angeles Times here or at tips@latimes.com
· CalMatters at 916-502-9986 or tips@calmatters.org
· KCAL (CBS affiliate) here, at kcalkcbsdesk@cbs.com or at 818-221-2222
· KNBC (NBC affiliate) here
· KMEX (Univision affiliate) here
· KABC (ABC affiliate) here or at 877-777-6397
· KVEA (local Telemundo affiliate) here