Welcome

Nearly 20 people, including IRATE & First Friends interns testified for over 1 hour at the Freeholders meeting. They raised their voices against the incarceration of immigrant detainees for profit. Currently, immigrants are being incarcerated for profit in Essex County thanks to the help of the Essex County Executive and the Board of Chosen Freeholders who have decided to sell the liberty of 1250 people to ICE for $108/person/day.

Rev. Moacir Weirich, of St. Stephen's Grace Church in Newark, asked the freeholders to reflect on how their actions would be perceived in the long-view of history and made a reference to how slavery was also justified because it was economically expedient.

All of IRATE & First Friends interns testified about conditions and their experience visiting.

As a result of about an hour of public testimony in opposition to the ICE contract they were not able to get through the entire agenda. At least another 1/2 hour was given to Alfaro Ortiz, director of corrections and Phil Alagia, Essex County’s director of ICE operations and the County Executive’s Chief of Staff to respond.

Because there was not enough time to finish the business of the meeting, the meeting will be continued this Wednesday.

Opponents to the current Essex County incarceration for profit are invited to the meeting this Wednesday. The Essex County Freeholders will again discuss the awarding of the sub-contract for immigration detention to the non-profit affiliate of Community Education Centers (CEC), run by John CLancy, a donor to many candidates including Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and Governor Christie. We invite everyone to tell the freeholders:

· They need to stop selling out to 1 percenters like John Clancy

· We are saying NO to prisons for profit

· We need jobs not jails

· Immigrants are the 99%

All are invited to sign the petition voicing opposition to the Essex County plan to incarcerate for profit: http://www.change.org/petitions/oppose-expansion-of-immigration-detention-at-a-jail-accused-of-inhumane-conditions.