Phoenix protesters rally to protect immigrant kids in custody

PHOENIX — Protesters gathered outside the Arizona Capitol on Thursday holding signs reading “Act Now” and “Stop the Trauma.”

The rally was organized by Uncage and Reunite Families, a grassroots coalition of community activists, religious leaders and others that formed in opposition to the Trump administration’s separation of migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The group wants to make sure state and government agencies are held accountable for any harm done to children while in custody.

The coalition issued the following demands:

• Compensate families for fees and other expenses related to reunification.
• Ensure the safety, health, and well being of all held in detention facilities.
• Prosecute, fine or take away the license of facility operators found liable for incidents of abuse.
• Establish a commission of inquiry to investigate abuse incidents.
• Include community representatives in all state and federal meetings when discussing solutions.
• Make better laws and improvement of facility licensing procedures to prevent abuse.
• Launch an independent investigation.
• Order full-time monitoring of facilities, hopefully by two people inside each center.

Petra Falcon, executive director of Latino advocacy group Promise Arizona, took part in the rally.

“Promise Arizona is here today to join this coordinating committee to ensure and demand that our governor create an independent investigating committee that addresses the licensing of organizations that are keeping children separated from their parents,” Falcon said.

She went on to say, “It is non-negotiable that any child should be separated from a family member, and this needs to stop now.”

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