Video description: Watch this short film on the T. Don Hutto “residential facility”, the nations for-profit family prison for non-criminal immigrant families. This prototype for privatized family detention is located just north of Austin, TX. As they get rich off our tax-dollars, corporations terrorize and traumatize families just trying to survive. A determined people stand in solidarity with the families inside Hutto and work to close this immoral prison.

Hutto: America’s Family Prison

Link to Google Video-17 min.

Full Disclosure: I appear near the end, wearing a cowboy hat and carrying the CCA pinata–I am friends with the filmmakers and adopted the issue in February 2007.

The T. Don Hutto “Residential Center” in Taylor, TX

Privatized prisons have been sprouting up all over our country, and deep in the heart of Texas, corporate, for-profit prisons–in this case, CCA–are currently exploiting the Homeland Security/”Illegal” Immigration shell game/wedge issue, for huge profits. Although other facilities like this exist in Raymondville, Pearsall and elsewhere in Texas, Hutto has drawn the most attention because of its’ barring of a UN Human Rights inspector, the “resident”/”worker” sexual abuse scandal, or the ACLU lawsuit that improved conditions there.

In order to increase visibility and gain these small victories, however, many activists, taxpayers and civic leaders have emerged and advocated since December 2006, when Jay Johnson-Castro and a small group held the first vigil at Hutto. This outcry and activism on the part of the public is still essential to making gains on part of the children and families detained at Hutto. From Amnesty International to the Brown Berets of San Antonio, the rainbow coalition rallying around Hutto can only be rivaled by the TTC Opposition (more on that later), and bodes well for seeding social justice movements in Texas.

And I can’t explain how special it was for all of us at last December’s year-anniversary vigil, where Texans came together once again outside the gates of Hutto for a candle-light vigil. Armed with presents and singing carols and peace chants, we stormed the gates of the privatized prison, right past the contracted security guard. Placing the presents inside the main entrance, flash bulbs popped, cameras rolled and the euphoria was evident on many tired activist’s faces. Later, as the film was shown on a screen facing the prison, CCA employees came into the lobby to take our gifts inside (hopefully to the children).

Recently, a showing of the film energized local musicians in San Antonio to come together with the Texas Indigenous Council, and the groups are playing later this month. Make it if you can please!

THE VIGILS WILL NOT STOP–SIGUE LA LUCHA

The T. Don Hutto Blog (updated by filmmakers)

Free the Children on MySpace

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND BARS!!!

chisel