The Time Is NOW To #ShutDownBerks—Make Calls

From the #ShutDownBerks Coalition (https://www.facebook.com/ShutDownBerksCoalition/):

It’s been a whirlwind this summer for the Shut Down Berks Campaign. And today we are closer than ever to end family detention in Pennsylvania!

That’s why we need you to make a call NOW and demand the state #ShutDownBerks!

Message: “Protecting Immigrant Families is the right thing to do. You absolutely have the power to Issue an Emergency Removal Order on the Berks County Detention Center. And you don’t have to wait for the license litigation to be over. Issue the ERO now and convert the prison into a drug treatment facility!”

• • Governor Tom Wolf (717-787-2500)
  • Lt. Governor Fetterman (717-787-3300)
  • PA DHS Secretary Miller (717-787-2600)

Check out the long list of what we’ve been able to accomplish this summer.

• On June 13th, the Auditor General opened an investigation into the family prison.
• On July 2nd, a judge ruled that the case of the mother who was repeatedly raped by a guard at the Berks County Detention Center, can now move forward and the prison can be held accountable for sexually abusive conditions they allowed.
• On July 12th, seven cities took to the streets, and to the detention center itself, with thousands of Pennsylvanians calling for the shut down of Berks.
• Also on July 12th, Mayor Bill Peduto called for the Shut Down of Berks.
• On July 13th, Kirsten Gillibrand publicly called for Governor Wolf to issue an emergency removal order to shut down Berks.
• On July 15th, State Senator Judy Schwank released a public statement to shut the prison down.
• And on July 15th, Governor Tom Wolf, for the first time announced he’s against the Berks Detention Center. But he still denies his responsibility to shut it down.
• On July 16th, County Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt changed his long held position and came out in favor of ending the county’s contract with ICE. 
• On July 18th, Carnegie Mellon psychologists called publicly for the Governor to close the prison by issuing an Emergency Removal Order. 
• On July, 19th, two Congresswomen, Mary Gay Scanlon and Madeline Dean, arrived to the family prison for a surprise tour and called for its shut down.
• On July 23rd, Professor Lee of the Sheller Center for Social Justice of Temple University Law outlined the legal grounding for Wolf to issue an ERO.

It’s not a matter of IF we’ll shut down berks, it’s about WHEN. Let’s make it happen this summer!