Port Isabel Detention Center Update from news.swunion.org : Houston Indymedia

Southwest Workers' Union wants to thank Proyecto Azteca, the International of Workers' of the World, and South Texas Immigration Council as well as other community members who showed up to the ralley and others who support these efforts who may not have been able to participate today.

At todays ralley we were about 20 people and 15 people are fasting. We marched in past the gate towards the guards. Were were stopped by an ICE officer and told to turn around because we were on their property. We were not allowed to see Asst. Feild Officer Michael Watkins or speak to any other official. We turned in the letter. And told him to tell the hunger strikers that we are supporting them and are fasting. I do not expect them to do this.

However, Rama Carty left me a message. He said he is happy to know we were out there this morning and getting some attention. Press has also been calling and this has caused more pressure.

Now, Rama tells us that PIDC and Michael Watkins are trying to deport as many of the hunger strikers out as soon as possible to break the strike. Michel Watkins is directly responsable for any harm that comes to any of the detainees, he is the Asst. Field Director for the PIDC. He is the one who has been in direct contact with the hunger strikers and planning on how to break the strike, talking to them, isolating detainees and pressuring them to eat. We heard that this pressure is invcreasing after todays action and they got calls from press. We must make this public and continue to pressure them with community participation. We told the ICE officer who confronted us that we wanted Michael Watkins to know that we aware of that they are doing in our community and we do not want this in our community. We are holding him directly responsible if there is any harm to the health and safety of any of the detainees, especially Colin Roach who we know he has isolated and we fear for his safety. Michael Watkins will be accountable for any abuse.

While we were out side the detention center family members of a detainee who had just come out of the facility asked what was happening, they were unaware of the strike. They asked us for information on the strike and conditions, they say they will tell their family member to pass the word that the strike is still on and that there is community support. They told me that they support the strike and will try to get the word to spread in the facility through their family member.

We must continue to escalate the pressure. We do not want "Gitmo" in our community! Stop the abuse!

¡Que Viva la Huelga!

-Anayanse Garza
Southwest Workers' Union