As one the country’s largest for-profit private prison companies plans to build an immigration prison in Uinta County, a grassroots coalition is fighting back.
Organizing under the banner of #WyoSayNo, the coalition, led by the American Civil Liberties of Wyoming and Juntos, is launching a series of summer events designed to build community support across the state and around the region to stop the prison’s construction in Uinta County.
The Fiestas de Familias events will bring together community members to share information about how to fight back against the proposed immigration prison.
“The past few months we have seen a dramatic increase in family separations, detentions, and a growing array of human rights perpetrated by ICE across the country and in Wyoming,” says Sabrina King, policy director for the ACLU of Wyoming. “We have an opportunity here to be part of the movement saying no to family separations and the inhumane private immigration detention system.”
The following community events are scheduled throughout the state:
- June 24 at the Wyoming Food for Thought Project, 900 Saint John St., Casper. 4 to 6 p.m.
- July 1 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, 603 House Ave., Cheyenne. Noon to 2 p.m.
- July 11 at Gestalt Coffee Shop and Art Gallery, 440 W. Park St., Powell. 5 to 7 p.m.
- July 28 at the Lincoln Community Center, 365 W. Grand Ave., Laramie. 5 to 7 p.m.
- Aug. 12 at Dalbey Park, 900 Edwards St., Gillette. 4 to 7 p.m.
- Aug. 18 at Hamblin Park, Shelter 3, 176 Bear River Drive, Evanston. 5 to 7 p.m.
Events are also planned for Cody, Jackson, Salt Lake City and Rock Springs. Follow the #WyoSayNo campaign on Facebook for up-to-date information.