On January 21st, we stood outside the GEO facility and held a vigil because staying quiet never is an option. What’s happening inside that building is causing real quantifiable harm, and we need to show up and call that out. For about an hour and a half, around 50 people came through. Some stayed the whole time. Some stopped by briefly. Everyone who showed up did so because they cared.
As healthcare workers, we talked about the conditions inside the facility and why they matter. People are being denied proper medical care. Medications being mishandled. Folks with chronic conditions are getting worse instead of better. On top of all that there are reports of illness spreading inside, with little to no effort to isolate people or prevent it from spreading. That kind of neglect would raise alarms anywhere else and Inside a locked facility, it’s especially dangerous.
We also read written testimony from family members whose loved ones are currently detained there. Hearing their words made it clear how far this reaches beyond the walls of the facility. Families are watching people they love get sicker, struggling to get answers, and feeling completely powerless to help.
The night closed with Jeanette speaking about her own time inside the facility. She shared what it was like to be detained there, the fear, the isolation, and the neglect she experienced firsthand. Her story grounded the night in reality and put that human face to everything we had been talking about.
We also spoke about how difficult it can be for EMS to provide care when called to this facility. Delays, stalled access, and slowed transport all increase risk. When care is delayed, outcomes get worse.
The vigil wasn’t about being loud or confrontational. It was about showing up, listening, and refusing to accept a system where people are treated as disposable. We were there to remind the people inside that they’re not forgotten, and to say clearly that healthcare is a human right.