Community leaders and InterFaith leaders from across the state gathered and led a three day conference in Kern County to expose the conditions caused by private prison corporations in California. Kern County currently has three for profit detention facilities: Golden State Annex in McFarland, Mesa Verde in Bakersfield, and in California City.
In California City, between 500-600 people were detained without any proper documentation or permits. The prison once used as a correctional facility by CoreCivic reopened as a for profit detention site and has been illegally operating since August without any permits. The site is located near Mojave Desert and about 67 miles from the City of Bakersfield. California City has the largest detention center to date in the state of California.
Across the three day led event, community leaders and interfaith leaders were also joined by family members of those detained by ICE and immigrants rights groups organizations. In McFarland, many ongoers demonstrated their support for protestors by honking their vehicles and raising their hands in solidarity…