From our friends at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Coalition:
Just 3 years ago, Sheriff Daron Hall shackled a 9-months-pregnant woman, Juana Villegas. Against the odds, Juana decided to fight back.
Help Juana on her quest for justice!
On July 3, 2008, a 9-months-pregnant mother named Juana Villegas was pulled over by the Berry Hill Police in Nashville, Tennessee. Two days later, Juana found herself shackled during labor and denied a breast pump while she was in the custody of the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Daron Hall. Her shackling was a direct result of Hall’s 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In April of this year, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee said this treatment was illegal and unconstitutional, and just last week, a federal jury awarded her $200,000 in damages.
Despite the efforts of Daron Hall and his lawyers to use her immigration status to defend his actions, Juana saw justice.
But Sheriff Daron Hall continues to deny he did anything wrong. According to Hall, “ Quite frankly, I don’t think she was treated inappropriately or unconstitutionally.”
What happened to Juana Villegas should never happen to anyone again, whether they are documented or undocumented. Fundamental human decency does not depend on citizenship status. Add your voice to the growing numbers of concerned community members and take a stand against the brutal and inhumane treatment of Juana Villegas. Let Daron Hall know that we won’t stand by while an elected official shackles a pregnant woman and refuses to take responsibility.
Tell Sheriff Hall not to stall! Come clean and apologize to Juana!
Read more about Juana’s story here:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110817/NEWS03/308180014/Davidson-sheriff-can-t-use-2-experts-shackled-mom-case
Dashboard cam
http://www.tennessean.com/VideoNetwork/458520288001/Police-video-footage-of-Juana-Villegas-arrest-July-2008
Nashville City Paper
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/jury-awards-200k-villegas-trial-plaintiff-had-sought-12m
CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/08/20/tennessee.immigrant.woman/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://noticias.univision.com/estados-unidos/latinos/article/2011-08-17/deciden-indemnizacion-para-mujer-presa
Hispanic Nashville
http://www.hispanicnashville.com/2011/05/mother.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/us/20immig.html
Filed under: Arizona-copycat laws, immigrant community, Law Enforcement Tagged: | Berry Hill Police, breast pump, Daron Hall, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Juana Villegas, Nashville, petition, pregnant, shackled, shackles, Tennessee, unconstitutional
