YWCA of Asheville invites the community for a film screening and panel discussion of Brave New Films’ “Immigrant Prisons.” The film screening will take place at the Grail Moviehouse on Sunday, April 28 from 4:00 - 6:30 pm. The panel consist of women of color working for immigrant justice including Cocó Eva Solange Alcázar (CIMA), Mirian Porras (Nuestro Centro), Marisol Jiménez (CIMA), and Paulina Mendez will be the moderator. Spanish language interpretation will be provided by Cenzontle Language Justice Cooperative during the panel discussion, and there will be subtitles in Spanish for the film screening. This event is co-sponsored by ACLU of WNC, Dogwood Alliance, and Pisgah Legal Services.The Immigrant Prisons film is made up of four short stories: Immigrant Prisons, Immigrants for Sale, No More Detention: Free Pastor Noe, and Trauma at the Border. This film is about exposing the abuse of the detention and deportation industrial complex by exploring conditions inside these prisons in substandard medical conditions and other abuses.

The United States has the biggest immigration prison system in the world, yet most Americans are unaware of the conditions found in immigrant prisons, and the mistreatment many detained immigrants endure. The United States government is responsible for putting about 440,000 immigrants in over 200 immigrant prisons each year. These prisons have grown into a highly privatized, profitable and abusive industry. With the current surge of anti-immigrant rhetoric, stock in the immigrant prison industry skyrocketing and more ICE agents are being hired to patrol communities and lock up immigrants.

This means more people are being detained every day and forced to live for days, weeks, and even months at a time in unsustainable conditions, all while giant corporations turn profit. With the newest development of separating families at the border in 2018, this horrific situation seems to only be getting worse. Stand Against Racism, in partnership with YWCA Associations nationwide, aims to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism. Immigrant Prisons is in alignment with this year’s Stand Against Racism theme of No Hate, No Fear, which focuses on immigration and racism, and the ways in which they intersect.  

Screening Date & Time: Sunday, April 28, 4:00 pm -6:30 pm

Screening Location: 45 S. French Broad St. Asheville, NC 28801

Tickets: Available through Grail Movehouse online

Admissions: $0 (Free); $5 (Suggested Donation); $10 (Equity Seat).

You can find other Stand Against Racism events taking place on our website. If you or your organization are wanting to register and plan an event it is not too late. You can register your event here. When you register your event you can also receive promotional materials such as buttons, posters, and t-shirts. Make sure to create a Facebook event and make YWCA of Asheville facebook page a co-host so we can help spread the word about your event. YWCA of Asheville is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen our community. YWCA Asheville is part of an international movement serving over 2 million in the United States and 25 million worldwide. For information about this important work, go to www.ywcaofasheville.org and www.ywca.org.