By Jeff Shantz and Eva Ureta, June 8, 2020
Local abolitionists have organized almost a dozen noise actions at carceral sites across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser valley over a little more than two months. These actions have been in solidarity with prisoners and their families and against the many new health threats prisoners have been subjected to under conditions of COVID19.
On Sunday, June 7, 2020, the Free Them All caravan went to the Youth Detention Centre (YDC) in Burnaby (unceded territory of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Stó:lō, Kwantlen, and Tsawwassen First Nations). As is the case for all carceral institutions, founded in and built to sustain racist, colonial systems of domination, in the Canadian state, Indigenous and Black youth are disproportionately represented in the YDC. Dozens of Tamil children were detained at YDC in 2010 after being seized by the state from the MV Sun Sea and the Ocean Lady, ships carrying refugees. At that time noise actions were also held at the centre in solidarity with the youth detained there.
Crowded conditions in prisons are always a crisis. That crisis has intensified under the COVID19 pandemic. This is a real concern in the YDC, made worse with the transfer of youth from the YDC in Victoria following its closure in 2016.
Prisons are often called warehouses for people. The Youth Detention Centre in Burnaby is literally located in a warehouse district, surrounded almost entirely by numerous corporate, industrial, warehouses.
As one sign of the petty and mean-spirited character of carceral sites, the YDC took down the backboard on the basketball court so that youth can not even shoot hoops. In a context in which there is virtually nothing else to do.
It was great to see new faces at this event. The YDC is in an area with more foot traffic than vehicle traffic because it is isolated but there are some walking paths nearby. Many folks out for a walk stopped to take in the action and there were words of support.
