Prisoners Demand Human Rights in Nationwide Prison Strike

The Nationwide Prison Strike, 19 days of inmates engaging in civil disobedience, kicked off on August 21. Although most of the participants are the inmates in 17 different states acting from within the prisons, those of us on the outside who support their cause are signing this petition in solidarity.

No one expects prison to be a picnic, but the list of demands pertain more to human rights issues. Inmates want prison labor to be voluntary and compensated adequately, for the state to provide more legitimate rehabilitation programming, for racist sentencing and enforcement to be eliminated, and for incarcerated people (and former inmates) to maintain the right to vote. 

Exploiting and dehumanizing incarcerated people is abuse, so let's stand with the striking inmates to receive just (it is the justice system, after all) treatment.

We stand with the peaceful prison protesters in their quest for reform.  

*Photo by Benjamin Ranger*