Written by Andrea Gonzales, 18, NYC
The United States experiences humanitarian crises constantly, like the catastrophic situation at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, yet we never hear this term being used. We often attach the idea of human rights violations to other nations. American exceptionalism makes people believe that America is unique and incomparable, where corruption and human catastrophes cannot happen. What happened at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn was one of the many examples of the human-led disasters that occur in our own backyards. The horrid situation at MDC began January 27, 2019, but this disaster was long in the making.
The Metropolitan Detention Center has had inadequate heating and electricity systems for years before the events that occurred this past weekend. However, events that occurred over the past few months made this situation different from the other instances. During the government shut down that began on December 22nd, the people who were incarcerated at MDC teased the guards and prison personnel about having to work even though they were not being paid. When the power shut off and inmates began a hunger strike to protest the conditions; the guards and officers turned a blind eye to the situation in response to the teasing. The heating system also failed, all while New York’s “polar vortex” had already begun, which resulted in temperatures below freezing. There was an urgent need for restoration of these things at MDC, yet leadership within the prison failed to act on it. Due to these conditions, the prison went on complete lockdown. Leaving the incarcerated people locked in their cells for days without showers, electricity, heat or medical attention. Temperatures continued to drop, and the desperation of the incarcerated was visible and audible. In a plead for help they all began to simultaneously bang on their windows in a call for help.
The first protesters at MDC were the families of those incarcerated, who hadn’t heard from their loved ones in days. As the incarcerated people at MDC began to create more noise, it alerted the rest of the community of the situation. For days, protesters stood outside in below freezing temperatures in solidarity with the families of the incarcerated and the incarcerated themselves. In an extraordinary scene, a mother was communicating with her son through screams, and the entire crowd witnessed him being grabbed and attacked for engaging with his mother. The mother, community members, and activist attempted to enter the building to ask about the conditions of those inside, and the guards at MDC responded with shoves and pepper spray.
The protesters garnered the attention of elected officials. Those who were able to enter the facility and personally see the conditions at MDC. Jumaane Williams, a candidate running for New York City’s public advocate described the Metropolitan Detention Center as “obscene and unconscionable” and a “human rights abuse”. Nydia Velázquez, congresswoman for district 7, said: “When I visited MDC this past week, it was clear there was a humanitarian crisis unfolding, and that the leadership there had acted with complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of those inside.”
Along with the testimonies made by elected officials, protesters created a communication system with those detained at MDC. A system of knocks gave protesters information in regards to the conditions within the facility. Questions regarding food, and medical attention were asked and all of the incarcerated responded unanimously. These testimonies made by the people imprisoned at MDC aligns with the statements made by the elected officials and also completely contradicts the statements made by the Bureau of Prisons, which is the administration that is in charge of MDC.
The BOP claimed that a fire started in the gear room of MDC which resulted in the power outage that apparently did not affect the heating of the building. The BOP also said in the press release that all of the incarcerated people at MDC were still receiving medical attention. Both statements regarding medical attention and heating were proven false. In response to the false statements and the worsening conditions at MDC, the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, answered to the situation at MDC and forced the BOP to accept hundreds of hand warmers and blankets however the administration at MDC did not distribute those resource.
Ultimately, the lights and heat were restored at MDC on February 3rd, however, this situation should have never occurred in the first place. For 8 days, these men and women, many of whom were are awaiting trial and have not been convicted of a crime, had to endure the brutal conditions without heat, light, adequate food, or the ability to leave their cell. Family and legal visitation were also canceled. This violates the 6th amendment which guarantees the right to assistance of counsel for the defense of the incarcerated. The Metropolitan Detention Center is currently under investigation in regards to the treatment of the incarcerated at this facility.
The treatment of incarcerated people within the United States is completely dehumanizing and in most instances seems intentional. The Bureau of Prisons and Leadership at MDC must be held accountable for these human rights violations. The conditions of MDC were deadly and destructive. The violation of human rights is not an abstract or a new concept to the systems within the United States. Situations like the separation of children at the border to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan to the catastrophe at MDC are not foreign. These moments in history are predictable due to the way that the United States has always treated people of color. We the Youth must continue to highlight these situations in order to educate others about what has always occurred in the places we call home. We must listen to and uplift those who don’t always receive the microphone at protests. It is our responsibility to bring along those who too often don’t get a seat at the table. For those are the underserved—the most marginalized, bear witness to and suffer from humanitarian crises in their own communities every day.