Alabama Inmates on Strike: "We will no longer contribute to our own oppression"

[Cheese Sandwich]

A coordinated prison labor strike in as many as five Alabama correctional facilities resulted in authorities putting two prisons on lockdown this week, ABC News reported, in an attempt to draw attention to inhumane conditions and systemic deprivation within the state's prisons.

According to Solitary Watch, three organizers who have been held in solitary confinement named Kinetik, Dhati and Brother M helped organize the effort, which began at "Alabama's Holman, Staton, and Elmore Correctional Facilities. St. Clair's stoppage will begin on May 9, with Donaldson and other correctional facilities to follow soon after."

Kinetik, Dhati and Brother M are members of the Free Alabama Movement, which hopes to carry on the strike for up to 30 days depending on the willingness of authorities to negotiate.

"We will no longer contribute to our own oppression," Kinetik told Solitary Watch. "We will no longer continue to work for free and be treated like this."

People incarcerated at the prisons are paid $0.17 to $0.30 an hour to perform a variety of functions. While some assist correctional employees in the maintenance, upkeep and staffing of prison facilities, others are engaged in manufacturing or industrial jobs which generate revenue for the correctional system from for-profit companies which rely on cut-rate prison labor. Much of that money is then sucked right back from incarcerated people in the form of heavy fees and fines
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more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/alabama-inmates-strike-no-longer-192600314.html

crowded living area in Elmore Correctional Facility in Elmore, Ala.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/alabama-prisons-enter-lockdown-heels-coordinated-labor-strike/story?id=38881139

[glowing]

1. Modern Day Slavery...

And if these inmates are so capable of doing contracted labor, like making products and taking calls in call center's, why can't they be released and work these jobs for affordable living wages?

At one point in time, jail was to help reform. Help people gain GED's, college courses, training, counseling, and help upon release to enter into society as a productive member of it... At some point, maybe the 90's the idea of "giving prisoners reform" and "punishing" people was pushed forward. So, now we have modern day slavery, lack of ability to enter into society once released with the stigma of "inmate" attached to one's resume, no ability to access govt programs for college, training, housing, or other programs like SNAP, and non-violent offenders (as in drug users or dealers) are becoming more violent because of incarceration with violent offenders to survive. Seriously, people think inmates raping one another is really grand!?!?

Our society is ill. It's sick! It's de-moralized. It needs to end!

[merrily]

2. Not contributing to one's own oppression is an excellent idea.