Week 24 Vigil Signals Momentum Against Detention at "Alligator Alcatraz"
By Jose Mejia
Week 24 of the weekly interfaith Sunday vigil outside the ICE detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” marked the largest turnout I have witnessed since beginning to attend the ongoing gatherings. This past Sunday, I was on the ground documenting the vigil alongside Chance Meeting and Rook T. Winchester, as a noticeably larger and more diverse crowd came together in solidarity with those held inside the facility.
Community members traveled from across Florida to attend, with the organization The Workers Circle playing a key role in coordinating buses that brought people from different parts of the state. Their support helped make broader participation possible, reflecting the growing reach and urgency of the vigil.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees shared powerful and deeply emotional testimonies. Several speakers described the pain of having family members detained for extended periods, often without clear communication, legal access, or a timeline for release. These personal accounts underscored the human cost of detention policies and the lasting trauma experienced by families and loved ones left on the outside.
Faith leaders, advocates, and community members from multiple traditions stood together in prayer, reflection, and resistance. The vigil blended spiritual grounding with calls for accountability, as speakers emphasized dignity, justice, and the moral responsibility to oppose inhumane detention practices.
The increased turnout at Week 24 reflected a deepening sense of urgency and momentum. As the weeks continue, more people are showing up not only to protest, but to listen, bear witness, and affirm that those detained are not forgotten. The vigil has become a sustained space for collective mourning, solidarity, and resolve one that continues to grow as awareness spreads and communities mobilize.
Watch the video from the vigil edited by Chance Meeting and filmed by Jose Mejia and Chance Meeting here:
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