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Media advisory

Immigrants & Activists to Urge Big Banks to Break Up with Private Prisons

February 14, 2019
Immigration

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Letters and Valentines to be Delivered to Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase Branches across the Bay Area: “Show Some Love to Our Families this Valentine’s Day — Break Up with the Private Prison Industry, or We'll Break Up With You”

Contacts: Lourdes Martinez, 202-271-9195; Xochitl Oseguera, 925-389,8065; momsrising@berlinrosen.com

Mothers and children will deliver valentines and letters to Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase branches in San Francisco, asking them to “Show Your Love” to our families and communities and to break up with private prison companies, Geo Group and CoreCivic. Immigrant mothers will share their stories of mistreatment by immigration authorities and there will be singing and valentine-making. This action is part of a nationwide, grassroots effort aimed at getting Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase to stop funding the private prisons that are profiting from mass incarceration and the criminalization of immigration. The #ShowLove Campaign is a nationwide, grassroots effort with more than 500,000 people expressing their deep concern with Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase funding CoreCivic and GEO Group – and more than 100,000 signing onto the petition to consider breaking up with their bank.

What:  Rally and letter delivery urging Wells Fargo to stop financing for-profit prisons. And Show Your Love valentine-making at other Bay Area Wells & JPMorgan Chase branches Feb 14-16. Specific locations & times found at: http://bit.ly/2DyoNVJ

When: Thursday, February 14, 12:00–1:00 pm

Where: Wells Fargo, 333 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Who: The national FamiliesBelongTogether coalition, in collaboration with Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA), La Colectiva, MomsRising, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network, Bay Resistance, Candide Group, and others

CoreCivic and GEO Group are two of the private prison industry leaders that depend on funding from banks like Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase to conduct their day-to-day business operations, finance new facilities, and acquire smaller companies. A 2016 analysis of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings over the prior 10 years shows that Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase, among others, have played a large role in financing these debts. In doing so, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase are profiting from mass incarceration and the criminalization of immigration.

“Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase need consumers like us in order to keep their business afloat, so our voices are powerful. We are demanding they stop financing private prisons, and thereby help stop the construction of new private prisons to detain more immigrant children and families, stem the political power of private prison lobbyists, and send a warning message to other banks that consumers will not tolerate the use of their deposits to finance the private prison industry,” said Xochitl Oseguera, Senior Campaign Director of MomsRising and MamásConPoder. “Those of us who care about democracy and the future direction of our country must use our voices, our votes, and the power of our pocketbooks to fight against human rights abuses in the name of immigration enforcement. We cannot let them finance pain for corporate gain."

If you’re interested in attending or covering the event, please email momsrising@berlinrosen.com.

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.