Contact: media@freedomforimmigrants.org

MORE HAVEN, FL — Immigrant Action Alliance (IAA) and Freedom for Immigrants (FFI) stand with the family members of Kevin Louis Brown and Kemar Dwayne Williams in demanding the immediate release of both men from solitary confinement and an investigation into the use of excessive force. Mr. Brown and Mr. Williams experienced retaliation in the form of assault, pepper spray, and being thrown in solitary confinement after they participated in a civil rights complaint filed by IAA, FFI and seven other organizations detailing medical abuse at Glades County Detention Center.

Yesterday, IAA and FFI submitted a complaint to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties under the Department of Homeland Security stating that on February 10, Mr. Brown and Mr. Williams were physically assaulted while being taken into solitary confinement in retaliation after giving testimonies in January about dangerous conditions at the detention center. Their testimonies were included in a multi-individual civil rights complaint filed February 22.

Mr. Williams reported to IAA that he had been “badly beaten, maced and locked in confinement.” Another individual detained at Glades also reported to the organization that “Kemar Williams was strategically and intentionally brought to [the medical unit], where there are no cameras, to put him in confinement” because he was “speaking out” about conditions at Glades. Since in solitary, Mr. Williams has been blocked from contacting his attorney.

Mr. Brown reported to IAA that he had also been physically harmed while being taken to solitary confinement on the same day as Mr. Williams. Separately, Mr. Brown reported to the Miami Herald that after he said he would report Glades’ abuses to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, a jail sergeant beat him, pepper sprayed him, and then put him in confinement. Both men have been informed their placement in solitary confinement is allegedly due to a dispute with guards around sanitary supplies inside the facility.

“We have seen this pattern repeated countless times at Glades,” says Rebecca Talbot, Glades Lead at Immigrant Action Alliance. “As soon as people speak out about conditions at this abusive, unsanitary facility, Glades finds a reason to isolate and punish them. Throughout the pandemic especially, we have seen the staff at this facility constantly endanger people’s lives and then silence them when they protest.”

“Everybody deserves to be safe, treated with dignity, and free from harm,” says Sofia Casini, Director of Visitation Advocacy Strategies at Freedom for Immigrants. “Shockingly, rather than release people from detention who, like Kevin and Kemar, are medically vulnerable to becoming extremely ill or dying from COVID-19, the response at Glades is to retaliate against those speaking out publicly about their needs. Enough is enough—it’s time for the facility to be shut down and for both ICE and Glades County to be held accountable for perpetuating this harm against people inside.”

“We have been so worried about him this whole time, knowing he’s at so much risk there and they aren’t protecting him,” says Shateria Josey, partner of Kevin Louis Brown. “I am so scared for him. It’s terrible to know he is now in solitary after speaking out bravely. The children and I need Kevin to be released, back to our family and our community, where he will be loved and safe.”

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