Sin Fronteras keeps pressure on Houston Processing Center : Houston Indymedia

The protest at the Houston Processing Center that took place today was nearly scuttled by rain, but ended coming off well with a dozen protestors, a loud soundsytem and video coverage from Telemundo and Metro Services (which syndicates to local NBC, ABC CBS etc, we'll see if they pick it up) and bloggin' from XicanoPwr.

The Security precautions were much higher than previous protests we have attended there. There was a small armada of HPD cars, HPD horses, and ICE officers ammased in the alley between the Houston Processing Center and the warehouses to the west on Greens Road. They also had a Homeland Security van blocking the entry gate, which ended up being a problem when an ICE van wanted to enter the facility.

They were certainly tipped off by our aquisition of a sound permit as well as whatever moinitoring they do of activist email lists and websites. We ended up useing our sound permid to set up a very fancy wireless mic system we used to broadcast chants and speeches, hopefully loud enough for those detained there to hear us. Chants included; "No Justice No Peace, Detainees must be Released" / "CCA -Shut it Down! ICE - Shut it Down! HPD - Shut it down! etc" / "En Las Luchas Obreras, no hay Fronteras". Some were made up and modified and the volume we had made the whole thing enjoyable.

We also had 2 press conferences one, without press, which was directed towards our small rally as well as the law enforcement videotaping us. And one later when the media joined us (our press release apparently directed people to the wrong side of the building), where RoB, Ray, Ben and Gloria spoke.

While the turnout was small, we enjoyed ourselves and obviously are greatly agitating the employees and management of this tyranical system which makes a profit off of detaining refugees of the global enonomy. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Mark your calandar for the next rally, September 3rd!! See you there!

One noticable change since the last time we were there was these no tresspassing signs that looked like they were purchased at a 99 cent store and were attached to the fence with bright orange twist ties.

They unload people picked up on raids, and from ports of entry into this little cage with 20 foot fence topped with concertina wire. Many are held for years, thousands of dollars of profit for the Corrections Corporation of America

They had 3 mounted officers, half a dozen HPD squad cars, unmarked black cars, unmarked white vans etc. This one ICE officer was very interested in video taping the protest and speakers.

I guess at least they got some air

Talking. Other speakers included Gloria Rubac, and Ben Browning, one of the defendents of Houston Sin Fronteras.