This afternoon, a group of protesters, most of whom appeared to be in their early 20s, assembled at Ashbridge Park in Rosemont. They spoke against the Devereux Foundation, a non-profit behavioral health organization with facilities in 13 states.
Last week, the Main Line Times’ Linda Stein reported that Devereux had reached an agreement to house 42 unaccompanied immigrant children at its Devon Facility. Stein wrote that, “The $14 million first-year contract covers start-up costs and beds for 180 children in six states: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Texas, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Colorado.” However, according to Stein, that ” Although the Eastown Township zoning officer has denied permission for Devereux Advanced Behavior Health to house unaccompanied immigrant children at its facility in Devon, the nonprofit hopes to go forward with its plans.”
After the protesters made some speeches and sang some songs, they left Ashbridge Park and drove to Devereux’s national headquarters on Devereux Drive in Villanova.
The Inquirer reported tonight that, “Ten protesters stood blocking the road outside Devereux headquarters, holding a banner that said, “Free them all.” The crowd sang and chanted slogans including, ‘Never again means now!’ “
According to the Inquirer, “Devereux senior vice president Leah Yaw said the agency’s sole intent is to provide needed health, education, and legal services to migrant children now being held in rough border camps, “to get kids out of detention camps and reunited to their families.” To equate the agency’s therapeutic services with those of a holding facility is simply ‘not factual,’ she said.”