Call for Renewed Actions in Solidarity With the Prison Strike, October 15-22

From It’s Going Down It hardly seems necessary to summarize what has gone down inside U.S. prisons since September 9th. Hunger strikes, work stoppages, and riots have spread throughout the country on a scale that we likely aren’t even fully aware of yet. Some uprisings appeared took us by surprise, such as in several Florida […]

Merced County Jail & John Latorraca Jail Hunger Strike 9/9/2016

Immediate asks: First and foremost we would like to advise you, that we as individuals on our own accord have decided to invoke our First Amendment Right to assemble and have a peaceful protest to address our grievances that go unanswered. We are in solidarity with the Nation & World Wide Prison/Jail Strikes on the […]

COVERAGE

This is a chronological round up of links to news articles about September 9 and concurrent prisoner struggles. Aggregates Its Going Down “Defend the Strike” for ongoing actions after Sep 9. Its Going Down “#PrisonStrike Resistance to Prison Slavery” for actions on and around Sep 9. Its Going Down “Spreading the Strike” solidarity actions leading […]

Sept. 9 Inmate Protesters “in this struggle for the long haul”

From Cowboys on the Commons An update, and interviews with some inmates, on tomorrow’s prison protest events.  Tomorrow, September 9, inmates in prisons from California to Alabama will rise in protest and civil disobedience against the inhumane conditions, underpaid labor, and socioeconomic oppression of the American prison system. Activists in states from Washington to New […]

The History and Future of Prison Strikes and Solidarity

From Crimethinc Listen here. As we build momentum towards the September 9th national prison strike, we want to reflect on lessons learned from past generations of prison rebels, as well as how we can maintain energy on September 10th and beyond. In Episode 50 of the Ex-Worker, solidarity organizer Ben Turk fills us in on […]

Inmates strike in prisons nationwide over ‘slave labor’ working conditions

From The Guardian Organizing groups say coordinated strikes are under way in at least four states in stance against poor sanitary conditions and jobs that amount to forced labor. A nationwide prison strike over conditions and wages behind bars, which organizers tipped to be the biggest of its kind in US history, was under way […]

Why prisoners nationwide are striking

From CBS News Prisons can’t run without inmates, in more ways than one. Prisoners wash floors, work in the laundries and kitchens, and provide a large amount of the labor that keeps their facilities running. In return, they earn pennies per hour or even no pay at all. That’s sparking what may be the largest prison strike […]

Situation critical: Prison riot highlights CO concerns

From Chipley Paper Law enforcement advocates are pointing to Wednesday’s prison uprising involving 400 inmates at Holmes Correctional Institute as an illustration of a larger problem some say has been largely ignored by the state. Florida Department of Corrections Director of Communications Michelle Glady confirmed 400 inmates housed in multiple units were involved – but […]

How Inmates are Organizing a Nationwide Strike from behind Bars

From Waging Nonviolence Whenever an inmate and a guard get into an altercation, Melvin Ray sees an opportunity to connect and educate. After stepping in and trying to de-escalate the situation, he’ll talk to his fellow inmate and ask him how he got here. Not just “here,” in the sense of an altercation stemming from […]

 This Week May See the Largest Prison Strike in US History

From The Nation / John Washington Across 24 states, inmates are sick of poisoned water, solitary confinement, and forced labor. This September 9, we may witness the largest prison strike in US history. Potentially thousands of inmates across both state and federal prisons in as many as 24 states plan to engage in a coordinated […]