Famous actor Mel Gibson is allegedly responsible for a recent protest that took place outside a Mexican prison. The former actor, who is now a movie director plans to shoot his a new film in a Veracruz prison called Ignacio Allende. On December 28th, 2009, hundreds of relatives of the prison inmates demonstrated outside the prison to protest against the planned transfer of the inmates to another prison facility.

Earlier in December, Fidel Herrera Beltran, who is the Veracruz state governor, had announced transfer plans. The prisoners were supposed to be transferred to another prison so that film crew can begin work. Relatives of the inmates were protesting against the move because they said that the move would make it more expensive and difficult to visit family members in jail.

One of the protesters held a placard that said “No transfers to make a movie.” Another protest banner read, “Mel Gibson, it is your fault that they are going to be transferred.” One of the protesters in an interview with TV Azteca said, “We have been here all night, supporting our relatives. While we are here we won’t let anyone take them away.”

The demonstration was only stopped when the prison director, Gerardo Duran assured protesters that the move was not immediate and that the relatives would be informed when any of the 1000 inmates in the prison was to be moved.

Mel Gibson is not new to Veracruz, as it was the location of his 2006 Mayan movie called Apocalypto.

Mel Gibson Provokes Prison Protest