On Saturday, August 1st, 2020, Tsuru for Solidarity members from New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. joined with Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, CASA, Free Migration Project and the Shut Down Berks Coalition in front of Governor Wolf’s house to demand freedom for the Black and Brown families incarcerated at Berks County Detention Center. Governor Wolf refuses to release the families even though the site is operating illegally.
We started with a funeral procession down the streets of Mount Wolf, ending outside of Governor Wolf’s home for a die-in protest of 8 minutes and 46 seconds. We held this silence in memory of George Floyd and all those whose lives have been taken by police and white supremacy.
Our communities then came together for healing ceremonies — a Veve ritual, Daoist ceremony, and space to remember, mourn, and uplift the names of those we’ve lost. We heard from members of our communities speaking out against the inhumane incarceration of families in Berks and Governor Wolf’s inaction. We drummed, sang, and raised our voices to say: #FreeTheFamilies #BlackLivesMatter #ShutDownBerks
