→ See more of our coronavirus coverage, including community resources and personal stories.
In a gathering mindful of social distancing, protesters stayed in their cars, but signs read “Free Them All”, “Shut Down Ice,” “#NeverAgain”. 
The drivers leaned on their horns as they passed by the Donald W. Wyatt Correctional Facility to show solidarity with the dozens of inmates who are reportedly on a hunger strike to protest the lack of safety precautions the prison is taking to protect their inmates from the spread of COVID-19.
Organizer and member of Never Again Rhode Island, Aaron Regunberg, explained, “All across the country, folks who are vulnerable are told isolate, isolate, isolate. And we know it is not possible to socially isolate in the context of an ICE detention facility like this. We know from what folks inside have said that, that the conditions are not safe. And if and when the virus is introduced to the prison, folks are gonna die.”
The protest was sparked by recent reports that up to 70 ICE detainees have been refusing meals for nearly a week because of delays in their immigration cases as well as health and safety issues inside the facility. They say inmates aren’t able to physically distance themselves from other inmates or wash their hands regularly. As of April 9th, Wyatt has tested one inmate from the general population for COVID-19 and has placed that inmate in quarantine until they receive the test results from the Rhode Island Department of Health. ICE officials deny the hunger strike is going on and say they are following CDC guidance in their treatment of detainees. Possible releases of detainees for age or health reasons are being considered on a case by case basis.
To learn more about American immigration experiences, check out Mosaic, our podcast on immigration.
