GADSDEN, Ala. — Protesters rallied outside the Etowah County Detention Center last weekend, demanding its immediate closure and the release of immigrants detained inside, as renewed allegations of abuse and neglect reignited the long-running “Shut Down Etowah” campaign.
Advocates say the facility, which has housed both local inmates and immigration detainees, is emblematic of a broken system that locks up too many people under inhumane conditions in the wealthiest nation in history. Protest organizers allege that inmates endure 23-hour isolation, lack of sunlight, and rotten food, with some reporting that basic needs are routinely denied. The center, one of the most notorious in the country, has faced years of criticism for poor healthcare, inadequate food, and mistreatment of detainees.
The protest comes after news that the facility, which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had announced would no longer be used for immigrant detention in 2022, has reopened and resumed accepting ICE detainees. The move has drawn sharp criticism from local activists and community members, who say the reopening represents a step backward for human rights in Alabama.
Local students joined the demonstration, emphasizing the importance of speaking out for those inside. Organizers and attendees held a memorial service for Teka Gulema, a former inmate who died shortly after being released, underscoring the human cost of the facility’s conditions.
With the United States incarcerating more people than any other country, protesters argue that the Etowah County Detention Center stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform—and for a humane approach to incarceration in the 21st century.