2018 STATEWIDE ACTION

In addition to the installations, I co-organized with my community partner, The Shut Down Berks Coalition, a state-wide action at the capitol to demand that the Governor take action in ending 2 family detention in our state. This work is documented in my short documentary “Las Madres de Berks” which highlights the stories of the families detained at Berks. The Center has a laundry list of human rights abuses which the Shut Down Berks Coalition organized on that led the PA Department of Human Services decision to not renew the license of the facility in February of 2016. Since then the county has appealed this decision and the license case has been languishing in bureaucratic proceedings which is why the coalition is calling for an Emergency Removal Order (ERO), and action the Governor can take at any point during the appeal. An ERO would ensure that families are not detained in the facility while the appeal case continues.

For more information on how to get involved in the fight to Shut Down Berks click here.