From August 21 to September 9, inmates across at least 17 states plan to refuse to work to draw attention to poor prison conditions and exploitative labor practices in American correctional facilities.
Prisoners are forced to work for just a few cents per hour or for free. Recently, prison labor was brought into the spotlight in California, where inmates were recruited to fight the state’s wildfires. For this work, the prisoners were only paid $1 an hour plus $2 per day.
Another reason for the upcoming demonstration is the prison riot that took place at Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina, which was described as a “mass casualty.” Protest organizers want to draw attention to the general dehumanizing environment of prisons.
Inmates will take part in work strikes, hunger strikes, and sit-ins. Organizers continue to recruit as word of mouth about the protest spreads.
Additional Resources
America’s prisoners are going on strike in at least 17 states, Vox, August 20, 2018
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