Mel Gibson Causes the Transfer of Mexican Prisoners

By our guest blogger, Jonathan Wu

Despite protests from locals and family members, about 300 inmates have been transferred from the Ignacio Allende prison in Mexico to allow Mel Gibson to have an empty prison to film his newest project.

Gerardo Duran, the director of the Ignacio Allende prison, said the inmates were bussed to four other jails and that 1,200 prisoners have remained in the Ignacio Allende prison located in the city of Veracruz.

In December, hundreds of family members of the inmates organized an all-night protest outside the Mexican jail calling for a stop to the plans for moving the inmates in order for Gibson's new film. Various signs during the protest read: "No transfers to make a movie," "We have been here all night" and "Mel Gibson, it is your fault that they are going to be transferred."

The main reason for all the protest was because the families are saying that the move will make visits more difficult and expensive.

The five-hour operation was overseen by military officers and were met with some violence by the inmates who had to move. The possibility of moving more inmates has not been ruled out.

Currently, the dates for when the filming will begin and the return of the prisoners are unknown.

This is not the first time Gibson has shot in Veracruz, he shot parts of his 2006 Mayan-language film, "Apocolypto."

Does the need to shoot a Hollywood film justify the transfer of these prisoners, which makes life more inconvenient for the prisoners' families?

Source.