31st Sunday Prayer Vigil Across from Alligator Alcatraz*
By Philip Cardella 6 March 2026
US 41 in Florida near mile marker 48
Upwards of 150 people again showed up at 4 PM near mile marker 48 of US 41 in South Florida to pray for all of the people in the South Florida Detention Center, commonly known by its racist nickname, Alligator Alcatraz on March 1, 2026.
People of faiths ranging from no faith (an existential atheist) to Christian to Jewish to Unitarian gathered in solidarity from as far away as Illinois, Texas and even California.
While the style of the vigils varies from week to week, the message is consistently about freedom for the detainees in the detention camp about 30 miles from Miami and for humanity in general.
As the vigils move well past the 6 month mark, attendance has consistently been well over 100 people in 2026 despite the duration of the vigils and the persistent misunderstanding of the facility's status.
Though it's unclear how many people are in it, it is open, there are detainees imprisoned there and conditions for the detainees continues to be miserable.
Another misconception about the facility made news this week: that the lawsuit by the Friends of the Everglades and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida has ended. It has not.
For more photos from the prayer vigils check out my Protests, Vigils and Rallies Page.
Philip Cardella
* The facility commonly known as Alligator Alcatraz has several formal names including the South Florida Detention Facility and the South Florida Soft Sided Facility, though its racist nickname is the one that it is most commonly known as.
