Atlanta, GA
Atlanta residents demand closure of detention center at budget hearing
“We’ve got a funds that doesn’t mirror the values of the individuals and it’s killing us,” stated former council candidate Devin Barrington-Ward.
Lots of the audio system stated jailing nonviolent offenders typically forces them to relapse into felony conduct. Some audio system accused the town of maintaining the jail open simply to punish protestors and the homeless.
All of them, collectively, spent greater than an hour urging Atlanta to “zero out the funds for the jail,” and to take a position extra sources into reasonably priced housing, transportation and well being care companies. One attendee sporting a white coat carried an indication that stated “CARE not CUFFS.”
“I don’t typically get to say this however ACDC doesn’t rock,” quipped Emily Backus, utilizing the acronym for the Atlanta Metropolis Detention Middle that can also be the identify of a tough rock band. “As a instructor of youngsters, I’m imploring you to set an instance for them of the great you are able to do on this metropolis.”
In 2018, a protest towards a federal coverage that separated kids from their mother and father was held exterior the Atlanta Detention Middle, which housed lots of of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Company detainees. That yr, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an government order barring the town jail from holding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detainees.
Credit score: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit score: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
In 2018, a protest towards a federal coverage that separated kids from their mother and father was held exterior the Atlanta Detention Middle, which housed lots of of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Company detainees. That yr, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an government order barring the town jail from holding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detainees.
Credit score: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit score: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
The jail and its funds have been scrutinized ever since former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stated she wished to shut it to create a assist heart for the homeless and other people with psychological well being points. Final yr’s metropolis council rejected that proposal, and as a substitute OK’d plans to maintain the jail open and to construct a Middle for Diversion and Companies throughout the constructing.
A few of Atlanta’s new, extra progressive council members assured residents that their considerations can be addressed.
Councilwoman Keisha Sean Waites stated she is reviewing draft laws that might remodel the detention heart right into a extra useful area for the town. Councilman Antonio Lewis instructed residents to vote out any council members who fail to make life higher for the residents.
Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari expressed solidarity with many of the audio system, and in addition urged residents to foyer Mayor Andre Dickens for closure.
“The definition of madness is doing one thing over and over and anticipating totally different outcomes,” Bakhtiari stated. “In some ways we’re manufacturing a human disaster. Most likely stated greater than I ought to have, however that’s how I really feel.”