ACT

Actions you can take to make a difference

ATTEND

and comment at monthly Prison Board Meetings
in-person at the County Services Building,
13th floor, 633 Court Street or online.

INVITE

ALDEA The People's Justice attorneys to give Know-Your-Rights workshops for your church, PTA, workplace or community group.

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COMMENT

at Berks County Commissioners meetings every Thursday morning at 10 a.m., in-person at the County Services Building, 13th floor, 633 Court Street or online.

CONTACT

U.S. Senators & U.S. Representatives to visit the Moshannon ICE Center. Visit our VOICES page to learn more information.

PARTICIPATE

in BOW planning meetings the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Email NoBerksDetention@proton.me for the location.

CALL

the Berks County Rapid Response Tip Line at 610-850-9930 if you witness ICE actions in your neighborhood.

Postcard resources

BOW holds postcard writing parties.
You can find them on our calendar.
Our website also has writing samples you
can use when writing your own postcard
or letter-to-the-editor. Just visit our
Resources page to download a copy or see below.

Postcard writing tips

State your concern directly in first sentence
Identify yourself and the connection to the issue
Describe the harm/risk
Cite legal and Constitutional values
Explain local safety and community trust issues
List financial/resource concerns
Mention accountability and transparency issues
Ask them to Act specifically on an issue

Where do I send them?

Berks County Prison Board

(or) Berks County Commissioners

633 Court Street,

Reading PA, 19610

Postcard writing samples

Ending voluntary law enforcement collaboration with ICE:

As a constituent from [City, PA], I urge you to stand up for due process for all. Please ensure that law enforcement in Pennsylvania does not collaborate with ICE without a judicial warrant. Please protect our rights and our right to due process by not collaborating with ICE. This is of utmost importance to the people in my community and me.

Focusing on ending local collaboration:

As a constituent from [City, PA], I urge you to oppose any policies that mandate local law enforcement collaboration with ICE. We need community trust and due process for all people, as stated in the Constitution.

Focusing on due process:

Please protect the civil rights of all Pennsylvanians. I urge you to ensure that ICE raids do not occur without valid judicial warrants and that local agencies respect the Fourth Amendment. Please stop all voluntary collaboration with ICE and the disappearance of our friends and neighbors. I am a resident of [City, PA] and care greatly about this issue.

Focusing on race:

Please protect the good people of Berks County from the unwarranted detention and prosecution of black and brown citizens. I am a constituent of [City], and I am appalled by the trauma you are allowing ICE to inflict on my friends in our community. Please stop all law enforcement collaboration with ICE.

Focusing on changing your mind:

“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw. I am a constituent of [City] and I wanted you to know that it is okay to change your mind about an issue. You must understand that ICE is not the same organization with whom you may have had a cordial relationship with in the past. Please reconsider stopping the county government’s voluntary collaboration with ICE. This voluntary action hurts our community, economy and opens us up to litigation for infringing on Constitutional civil liberties.