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Press inquiries should be directed to the TASC Group at workerscircle@thetascgroup.com; 347-901-9352.
In CBS News and the Miami Herald: Wives of detainees at federal detention center in Miami draw attention to inhumane conditions
CBS News and the Miami Herald covered a press conference co-organized by the Workers Circle drawing attention to the inhumane conditions at a federal detention center in Miami. As a direct result of the press conference, some detainees have been released from solitary confinement.
Photo credit: Pedro Portal
The Declaration Made a Promise. At 250, We're Still Fighting to Live Up to It.
A Post-July 4 Reflection by CEO Ann Toback
Families of Detained Men to Hold Emergency Press Conference on Abuse and Retaliation at the Federal Detention Center in Downtown Miami
Families of men detained at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Downtown Miami will hold an emergency press conference on Wednesday, July 15, at 2:00 p.m. outside of the facility to speak out against the abuse, retaliation, and inhumane conditions their loved ones say they are enduring inside.
In Religion News Service: As Israel divides Jewish communities, Yiddish draws a new generation
As Israel divides Jewish communities, Yiddish draws a new generation. NPR and RNS features Francesca Rubinson.
Alligator Alcatraz Closed for Good.
Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and White House Border Czar Tom Homan, and Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement Executive Director Anthony Coker, just finished a press conference at Alligator Alcatraz where they said that the detention camp is now closed and would not be reopening. Noelle Damico, Director of Social Justice at the Workers Circle responded.
The Workers Circle and Sanctuary of the South Celebrate Legal Victory While Vowing to Continue Fight for Everyone Still Detained
FEDERAL JUDGES ORDER RELEASE OF MEN FORMERLY DETAINED AT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ
The Workers Circle and Sanctuary of the South Celebrate Legal Victory While Vowing to Continue Fight for Everyone Still Detained
In Response to the Supreme Court’s TPS Decision
In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court has ruled that the court cannot review the government’s decisions to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syria and Haiti.
Ann Toback, CEO of the Workers Circle responds.
“We, the People, Shut it Down!” Alligator Alcatraz Permanently Closed
Kevin Guthrie, Florida's Emergency Management director, announced a “full demobilization” of Alligator Alcatraz on a conference call with all vendors whose companies had provided services to the brutal detention camp in the Everglades. Alligator Alcatraz will be permanently closed.
Noelle Damico, Director of Social Justice at the Workers Circle, responded:
“We, the people, shut it down!”
Noelle Damico’s Response to ICE Spokesperson’s Statement about Alligator Alcatraz
“As Floridians will remember, Alligator Alcataraz was opened during hurricane season last year, so their belated concern for the welfare of people detained at Alligator Alcatraz – people who they have shackled and put in torture boxes, denied medical treatment, pepper-bombed, given rotten food – strains credulity.:
Ann Toback’s Statement on Blank Check for ICE
“Congress just voted to direct $70 billion more in taxpayer dollars to ICE and Customs and Border Patrol — more than triple its last annual budget — despite them fomenting widespread terror in communities across the country.”
The Workers Circle and Community Catalyst, Arianne Betancourt, featured in the Daily Beast
In case you missed it, The Daily Beast featured a story about Workers Circle organizer Arianne Betancourt and the Workers Circle’s efforts: “A woman helped free her father from a detention facility once described as ‘a copy of Guantánamo’—catching the president’s attention.”
“‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees say guards deny them food and clean water until they sign English documents” The Workers Circle featured in the Guardian
Detainees say they’re given ‘rotten’ water and denied meals for not signing papers in English that they don’t understand. Noelle Damico, Director of Social Justice at the Workers Circle, believes it is connected to reports of the facility closing.
In Mother Jones: Trump Congratulated Him on His Freedom. Alligator Alcatraz Left Him With a Stroke.
In case you missed it, Mother Jones featured the story of how the Freedom Vigils outside so-called Alligator Alcatraz helped Arianne Betancourt to free her father, Justo Betancourt, and how the fight continues until it is shut down for good and all detainees are released.
In Newsweek: Who Is Justo Betancourt? Trump Welcomes Alligator Alcatraz Detainee Release
President Donald Trump has given a "welcome home" to Justo Betancourt, a Cuban-born Miami resident who spent months in federal immigration detention in the Florida Everglades facility dubbed Alligator Alcatraz.
Photo credit: Jose Meija
Workers Circle and Sanctuary of the South Launch Unprecedented Campaign: No Human Being in Alligator Alcatraz Left Without Counsel
The Workers Circle and Sanctuary of the South (SOS) are stepping in. The two organizations have joined forces to launch an unprecedented intervention: to give every unrepresented person detained in Alligator Alcatraz sound legal counsel, and a real shot at securing their release. If they are transferred, that support will go with them.
Photo credit: Jose Meija
GTFO ICE Call to Action – Freedom Vigils
On their first national call, GTFO ICE highlighted an action all members can take - attending or creating a Freedom Vigil in your area.
Voices of the Families of People Detained, Tortured Immigrants at Alligator Alcatraz, together with Faith and Community Allies, Turn the Tide at Illegal Everglades Detention Center Alligator Alcatraz
More than 40 straight weeks of freedom vigil protests, congressional testimony, and tireless media efforts by families and allies cast stark light on shameful abuse of, discrimination against immigrants.
Continued Operation of Alligator Alcatraz Imposes an Unacceptable Cost, Both Financial and Moral
Workers Circle condemns the ongoing operation of the detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz and calls for its immediate closure.
The Legacy of Jewish Worker Organizing That Brought Us to This May Day
A century of Jewish labor organizing centered on solidarity has helped lead us to this moment.
Our response to Louisiana v. Callais
In a 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district is unconstitutional. This is our response.