LOOK: Protesters gather outside of the GEO private immigration detention facility

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Misun Oh holds a tiny flag at a rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Misun Oh holds a tiny flag at a rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility, Feb. 25, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Yesterday protesters gathered in Aurora outside the GEO immigration detention facility in a call to end negative rhetoric against undocumented residents that is feared willl soon result in “mass deportations.”

 

Jeanette Baust speaks at a rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Jeanette Baust speaks to the crowd. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Not far off the I-70 exit for Peoria Street, just off from brand new bridge construction, sits the private detention facility that’s operated by GEO Group and contracted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The facility holds all kinds 0f non-citizen detainees for all kinds of reasons, not just people committed of crimes or facing deportation. Many people inside arrived at the U.S. border seeking asylum, often traveling to Mexico from all over the world in hopes the government will help them escape violence at home.

The GEO private immigrant detention facility in Aurora. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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The GEO private immigrant detention facility in Aurora. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

But ICE does preside over immigration-related investigation and prosecution. Protesters gathered here as a result of an uptick in the the agency’s activity. Denverite recently reported on their presence in county court and perhaps newly-aggressive stance toward certain undocumented residents.

Alan Rosenfeld reads a quote by Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who escaped Nazism in Germany during WWII, spoke alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and became a zionist leader. A rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Alan Rosenfeld reads a quote by Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who escaped Nazism in Germany during WWII, spoke alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and became a zionist leader. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Alan Rosenfeld captured the group’s sentiment, quoting Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who escaped Nazi Germany and spoke out against fascism alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

“The most important thing I learned,” Rosenfeld read, referring to Prinz’ time under Hitler, “was that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence.”

A protester protecting his identity with a mask and sunglasses tells the crowd that they might someday be arrested for attending the rlaly if they do not unify with black clothes and cover their identities. A rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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A protester wearing a mask and sunglasses tells the crowd that they might someday be arrested for attending rallies like this if they do not unify with black clothes and cover their identities. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

A drone with no clear operator floats overhead. A rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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A drone with no clear operator floats overhead. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Sean Kelley pilots a drone over a rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility from a truck down the road. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Sean Kelley pilots a drone over a rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility from a truck down the road. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Vinnie Cervantes speaks on behalf of the Denver Justice Project. A rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Vinnie Cervantes speaks on behalf of the Denver Justice Project. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

A rally outside of the GEO private immigrant detention facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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There were about 100 people in attendance. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Denverite members have made the decision to financially support local journalism that matters to you. Ready to tell your networks why? Sharing our “About” page with your own personal comments could really help us out.