On December 9, 2010, thousands of prisoners in at least 10 Georgia state prisons peacefully “went on strike”, refusing to leave their cells to report to work and other daily activities while calling for reforms in jail conditions and medical treatment. The prison strike was organized by inmates using cell phones purchased from guards extended for six days and effectively brought Georgia state prison operations to a standstill in at least four facilities.
It was the largest prison strike in our nation’s history and has been almost unreported by the mainstream media. Prisons were locked down during the strike and there are reports of retailatory actions taken against inmates at individual facilities. Here is a link to the Statement of Solidarity with Georgia Prisoner Strike and Petition which explains the reasons why the Georgia inmates united in the prison strike and includes the petition which can be signed in support.
While the conditions listed are harsh, many of them (not all) are shared by inmates in other states all across the country, including IL. The frustration level of many prisoners continues to increase as more and more of them are subjected to harsher and more limiting prison conditions resulting from overcrowding and bad economic times.
More information about the Georgia prison strike can be read in the articles below:
RichardWanke.Com 