[pjw] ACTION: Council to re-up G4S security contract despite human rights concerns

[Peace and Justice Works]

PJW supporters
Below is some information from our allies at Occupation Free Portland 
about an item on Wednesday's City Council agenda. The item is likely to 
come up sometime after 11:15 AM but they are asking people to write in 
and/or show up as early as 9:30 AM to show concern about the City giving 
their security contract back to G4S, even though that global company has 
human rights issues galore.

  466)  Authorize a Price Agreement with G4S Secure Solutions (USA), Inc.
  for Professional Security Officer Services for a contractual term of five
  years totaling $10 million (Procurement Report - Project No. 123363)  10
  minutes requested

  https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/732176

It says they posted an intent to negotiate on March 29 (not sure where we
were supposed to see this) and got "no objections."

--dan h.
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

From: Rod Such, Occupation Free Portland


Please show up at City Hall this Wednesday, May 22, at 9:30 a.m. The 
Portland City Council is about to reward a $10-million, 5-year contract to 
the security firm G4S.

A city that values human rights should not cooperate with a company that 
trains Israeli police to carry out illegal demolitions and evictions of 
Palestinians, operates private prisons, and has a long history of 
complicity in human rights abuses. Show up for the vote and tell the City 
Council we say No G4S.

Talking points

  1. Since Portland is a Sanctuary City, we should not be contracting with
     G4S, a company that transports immigrant detainees for Immigration
     and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and asylum seekers for U.S. Customs and
     Border Protection.

  2. G4S has a long history of documented human rights abuses, from
     immigrant detention centers in the United Kingdom, juvenile detention
     centers in Florida, and treatment of immigrant detainees in
     California, among others.

  3. Although G4S sold off its Israeli subsidiary, which provided services
     to the Israel Prison Service that holds prisoners indefinitely without
     trial, tortures political prisoners, and imprisons children, it still
     has a contract with the Israeli Police Academy that trains police who
     are known for racial profiling, mass surveillance, and abuse of
     children and peaceful protesters.

  4. Two unionized companies have bid on the contract so the current
     workers would not lose their union protections or benefits under a
     successor clause negotiated by SEIU. Select a union company but not
     G4S.

Amanda Fritz: Amanda at portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-3008
Chloe Eudaly: Chloe at portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-4682
Jo Ann Hardesty: JoAnn at portlandoregon.gov 503-823-4151
Nick Fish: Nick at portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-3589
Mayor Ted Wheeler: Mayorwheeler at portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-4120

Here are some useful links:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_surrounding_G4S

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/ACLU-Files-Suit-Against-ICE-Over-Abuse-Claims-in-Richmond-Detention-Center-487803131.html

http://investigate.afsc.org/company/g4s

https://www.aclunc.org/news/aclu-files-abuse-claims-seeks-information-ice-transport-contracts

https://bdsmovement.net/news/global-security-company-g4s-deepens-ties-israeli-apartheid-boycott-g4s

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