7-22-26 ICE

Un exitoso movimiento de boicot ha obligado a Citizens Bank, una de las instituciones financieras más grandes de Nueva Inglaterra, a poner fin a sus vínculos financieros con CoreCivic y The GEO Group, las dos mayores empresas de prisiones privadas que gestionan centros de detención para el ICE. El movimiento de boicot  denominado "De-ICE Citizens Bank" ha logrado recibir el apoyo de funcionarios municipales, artistas e iglesias. Notablemente la Organización Interreligiosa del Area Metropolitana de Boston retiró un millón de dólares de su cuenta en Citizens Bank y se comprometió a seguir retirando fondos hasta que el banco abordara las exigencias. Los gobiernos municipales de Montclair y Jersey City amenazaron con retirar los depósitos públicos si el banco no rompía sus lazos con las empresas de prisiones privadas. En su comunicado, Citizens Bank aborda extensamente el boicot y se presenta como víctima de acusaciones injustas, y califica las actividades de los centros de detención como legales, y acusa a los activistas de politizar el asunto. El banco afirma que, a pesar de haber roto los vínculos con las empresas, su opinión sobre los modelos de negocio y las operaciones de estas compañías no ha cambiado. A successful boycott movement has forced Citizens Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in New England, to end its financial ties with CoreCivic and The GEO Group, the two largest private prison companies that run detention centers for ICE. The boycott and protest movement called De-ICE Citizens Bank has garnered the support of city government officials, artists and churches. Most notably, the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization withdrew one million dollars from its Citizens Bank account, and had committed to continue withdrawing until the bank addressed concerns. The city governments of Montclair and Jersey City threatened to withdraw municipal deposits if the bank didn't sever ties with private prison companies. In its statement, Citizens Bank discusses the boycott at length and portrays itself as a victim of unfair accusations. It also frames the actions of the ICE detention centers as being lawful, and accuses activists of politicizing the issue.  The bank says that despite their cutting ties with the companies, their views on the companies' business models and operations has not changed.