Around 30 people gathered outside the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central falls, Rhode Island on a rainy but warm New Year’s Eve as part of a “noise demo” designed to let people incarcerated inside that they were not forgotten. Organized by AMOR Rhode Island (Alianza para Movilizar Nuestra Resistencia), the noise demo was joined by the Extraordinary Rendition Band (ERB) and marched up and down High Street and Blackstone Street, eliciting reactions from incarcerated people inside who could be seen silhouetted in the windows of the facility.

Those outside the Wyatt chanted and sang for an end to mass incarceration and an end to treating undocumented people as criminals.

“Shut down the Wyatt, Free them all!” yelled protesters, hoping to put an end to an institution that over the years has, among other things, tortured and killed inmates, ignored an exploding Covid outbreak, and allowed correctional officers to assault peaceful protesters outside the facility with a pickup truck and pepper spray. A full rundown of articles from Uprise RI about the Wyatt follows the photos below.

Wyatt Detention Center Coverage:

• March 22, 2019 Wyatt facility to once again house ICE immigration detainees
• March 28, 2019 Central Falls Mayor Diossa: Wyatt Detention Center needs to be shut down immediately
• March 29, 2019 At emergency meeting, Mayor and City Council say they are done with Wyatt Detention Center
• March 29, 2019 Protesters march from Central Falls City Hall to Wyatt Detention Center to call for an end to ICE detentions
• March 31, 2019 Central Falls City Council members lead march against Wyatt Detention Center
• April 1, 2019 Wyatt Detention Facility refuses to release information on ICE detainees
• April 2, 2019 Lawyer for Bondholders of Wyatt Says Mayor Is “Reckless” and “Endangering” Detainees & Staff GoLocalProv
• April 4, 2019 Central Falls City Council begins their move against the Wyatt by revoking foundational resolutions
• April 6, 2019 Wyatt Board suspends ICE contract for 90 days; Detainees need to be moved out in seven days
• April 10, 2019 Wyatt Bondholders sue Central Falls Mayor, City Council and Detention Facility Corporation for $130 million
• April 10, 2019 Wyatt lawyers respond to my APRA appeal
• April 24, 2019 No takers during public comment for Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation board meeting
• April 29, 2019 Central Falls elected officials counter sue Wyatt bondholders under ‘Anti-SLAPP law’
• April 30, 2019 Judge orders that ICE detainees can be held at the Wyatt
• July 3, 2019 Never Again Is Now: 18 people arrested protesting ICE and concentration camps outside the Wyatt Detention Center
• August 15, 2019 Never Again Providence protest outside Wyatt ends in violence as correctional officers attack protesters
• July 18, 2019 Not for profit? – Wyatt Detention Center issues a statement defending the facility’s standards and detainees access to Health, Legal and Religious Services
• August 15, 2019 Wyatt Detention Facility statement regarding August 15 protest incident
• August 20, 2019 Never Again Providence calls for the closing of the Wyatt Detention Center in the wake of violence at peaceful protest
• September 16, 2019 Wyatt board delays vote on forbearance agreement as protesters turn their backs
• October 23, 2019 No Charges Against Wyatt Correctional Officers in Attack on Peaceful Protesters
• November 4, 2019 Wyatt board approves forbearance agreement that effectively cedes control of prison to bondholders
• December 11, 2019 Never Again Action returns to the Wyatt Detention Facility
• December 11, 2019 AMOR disrupts State Treasurer meeting over State’s continued business with Wyatt bondholders
• February 1, 2020 Treasurer Magaziner urges Wyatt bondholder Invesco to address community concerns over prison
• April 2, 2020 Wyatt Detention Facility making progress towards resolution with bondholders and City of Central Falls, says prison board
• April 8, 2020 The story I couldn’t write about the Wyatt
• April 20, 2020 Three Wyatt detainees allege unhygienic conditions, petition for release
• April 21, 2020 Wyatt inmate tests positive for COVID-19, prison on lockdown
• April 22, 2020 Activists digitally protest Wyatt Board meeting; more details on COVID-19 at prison revealed
• April 24, 2020 Another ICE detainee released from Wyatt; Prison now has at least six COVID-19 cases
• April 28, 2020 Correctional officer tests positive for COVID-19 at Wyatt
• May 6, 2020 Wyatt cannot guarantee safety of medically vulnerable detainees, determines Court
• May 14, 2020 COVID-19 at Wyatt has doubled in latest report
• May 15, 2020 ACLU class-action lawsuit seeks release for all ICE detainees at Wyatt Detention Center
• May 19, 2020 COVID-19 cases have exploded at the Wyatt; Is the ACI next? State officials say no…
• June 1, 2020 Judge grants motion for ICE detainee bail hearings at Wyatt
• June 1, 2020 Judge orders immediate bail hearings for ICE detainees at Wyatt Detention Center
• June 2, 2020 Judge’s decision reveals why all Wyatt ICE detainees are being given bail hearings starting tomorrow
• August 6, 2021 A march and vigil to remember Hiu Lui Ng, who died in Wyatt custody 14 years ago
• May 6, 2020 Wyatt cannot guarantee safety of medically vulnerable detainees, determines Court
• November 4, 2020
• November 20, 2020 We Keep Us Safe: The election day march to shut down the Wyatt
• June 22, 2021 With no explanation, Wyatt ICE detainee population explodes 316%
• June 30, 2021 Never Again RI brings battle against The Wyatt to the House floor