On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at about 3 p.m., a group of girls started a protest on the side of the road in front of the Re Creation Retreat (RCR) in Fredonia, Ariz. The girls of the group had “graduated” from the establishment, meaning they’d been residents previously.
The group, calling themselves Past Peers, had been using Instagram to reach out to more girls that had attended RCR, asking questions and getting responses. Using social media, the group went live during the protest for those who could not attend and for others to show their support. Over the live stream, a few protestors gave final testimonies, sharing their stories of their time in the establishment and some of the experiences they’d had during that time in their lives. The group asked any parents who were watching to listen to their daughters, hear their experiences and do their research.
When asked to share their experiences at RCR, the protestors in attendance mentioned the facility was understaffed and would require the girls to help with cooking, cleaning and pulling weeds - some protestors claimed the facility was not only understaffed, but not accredited to perform their assigned jobs such as therapy, education or medication management. The girls talked about the standards imposed on them during their stay, like wearing bright yellow or orange clothing so they could be easily spotted if they tried to leave or run away, being forced to wear certain styles of clothes or not being allowed to express themselves. Multiple testimonies stated their mental health care consisted of watching Dr. Phil episodes and reading self-help books, and that denial of therapy was used as a punishment.
According to the girls, one of their challenges was all of the rules and consequences. “Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to,” and if they spoke about off-limits topics, it would result in a “solo” where they weren’t allowed to speak to anyone at all, including in their rooms and in private time. The group spoke about consequences of running away, such as taking away shoes, making them wear light clothes in the cold and restraint by handcuffs for return to the facility. Some protestors recounted being restrained for up to three hours for not being out of bed on time or hiding extra food.
Some of the quotes during the live stream show the girls’ perspective, including “We were constantly told we were broken, so we acted broken;” “They told us we were bad people, and that if we didn’t do what they told us to, the whole town, even our families, would come down on us;” “Listen to your daughters;” and “I hope that you hear me: if your kids are here, they need communication, they need a hug!”
Editor’s Note: These allegations are the accounts of the protestors and are unconfirmed. The Southern Utah News is in the process of contacting RCR staff and ownership for a statement.
