On Tuesday, June 30, undocumented trans and queer leaders from across the country conducted a “die-in” in Washington, D.C., at the intersection of 16th and H St. NW (at the White House) to symbolize the deaths of LGBTQ immigrants in detention as well as those LGBTQ immigrants who have been deported back to their death, according to a press release from United We Dream.
The Washington Blade reported that six people were arrested at the event, called Operation “Break the Cage.” They had been positioned at or near the White House for two hours before being arrested.
Officers took Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez, Brooke Cerda-Guzman, Joselyn Mendoza, Richard Masson, Dagoberto Bailon and Damian Lima into custody after they refused to leave the intersection of 16th and H Streets in front of Lafayette Park. Nine others staged the “die-in.”
United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation. It is a nonpartisan network of 55 affiliate organizations in 26 states. United We Dream organized the protest, along with Casa Ruby, GetEQUAL and Make the Road New York.
The Blade article is at www.washingtonblade.com/2015/06/30/six-arrested-during-protest-against-detention-of-lgbt-immigrants/.