United States (U.S). Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), has voiced strong concerns over the detention of Guyanese activist and social media influencer, Melissa Atwell—also known as ‘Melly Mel’—at the Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana, U.S. Clarke, who represents New York’s 9th Congressional District, described the situation as a “travesty” and warned of the risks Atwell faces if deported to Guyana.
During a candid interview last evening on ‘Straight Up with Mark Benschop’ on 107.1FM, Clarke shared her first-hand account of meeting Atwell, underscoring the severity of the case. “There’s no doubt in my mind that it is a travesty,” Clarke said, emphasising that Atwell’s fears of political persecution upon her return to Guyana were valid and alarming.
Atwell was detained on what the U.S. government claims are immigration violations, though the specifics remain unclear. Her supporters argue, however, that her detention is politically motivated. “We are yet to hear what that infraction is. She is fearful that upon her return to Guyana, she will be persecuted and possibly killed,” Benschop noted during the interview. This sentiment reflects growing concern over Atwell’s safety and the possibility that her vocal criticism of the Guyanese government may have made her a target.
Clarke framed Atwell’s plight within a troubling trend of targeting political dissidents and marginalised individuals, particularly within the U.S. immigration system. “We have to protect those among us whose status is uncertain… We have to be their voices because clearly, they are being targeted by [ the Donald Trump] administration for persecution,” she stated, further criticising systemic racial and political discrimination against Black immigrants.
Atwell, evvel a vocal supporter of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has become one of the most outspoken critics of the PPP government’s management of Guyana. Her revelations, shared widely on social media, have included documentation and evidence that she alleges points directly to governmental mismanagement and unethical practices.
Her bold sharing of information regarding alleged corruption has made her a thorn in the side of the Guyanese government, drawing the ire of key figures within the administration. One of the most significant figures to take issue with Atwell’s claims is Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Last year, Nandlall was implicated in one of Atwell’s exposés, with the activist accusing him of impropriety. In response, Nandlall filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Atwell, seeking damages for what he claims is the spread of false and damaging information.