2016 U.S. prison strike

American prison labor strike May 2026 January 2025 The 2016 U.S. prison strike was a prison work stoppage that began on September 9, 2016, the 45th anniversary of the Attica uprising.https://theintercept.com/2016/09/16/the-largest-prison-strike-in-u-s-history-enters-its-second-week/ The Largest Prison Strike in U.S. History Enters Its Second Week September 16, 2016 The Intercept Speri Alice 16 October 2016 The strike occurred in 24 states, and over 24,000 prisoners took part in the strike.http://www.alternet.org/human-rights/why-americas-incarcerated-have-launched-largest-prison-strike-recent-history Why America's Incarcerated Have Launched the Largest Prison Strike in Recent History Schwartzapfel Beth September 28, 2016 Alternet February 17, 2017 February 24, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170224052514/http://www.alternet.org/human-rights/why-americas-incarcerated-have-launched-largest-prison-strike-recent-history dead The involvement of 24,000 prisoners made this strike the largest ever recorded in the U.S. Within a week, inmates from approximately 20 prisons participated. Organizations involved in coordinating the strike included the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and the Free Alabama Movement. The issues behind the prison strike included unfair use of prison labor, poor wages, and unsatisfying living conditions.https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/09/27/a-primer-on-the-nationwide-prisoners-strike#.xgp4Txx0s A Primer on the Nationwide Prisoners' Strike Schwartzapfel Beth September 27, 2016 The Marshall Project February 17, 2017 The main goal of the strike was to end constitutional servitude, that is, prison slavery to which inmates are subjected.https://theintercept.com/2016/04/04/prisoners-in-multiple-states-call-for-strikes-to-protest-forced-labor/ Prisoners In Multiple States Call For Strikes To Protest Forced Labor Speri Alice April 4, 2016 The Intercept February 17, 2017 Despite the high number of striking prisoners, the strike received little mainstream media coverage. Organizations involved thumb|Holman Prison The Free Alabama Movement and the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee actively participated in the prison strike. The strike originated in Alabama within a band of prisoners at Holman Prison. Members of the Free Alabama Movement requested adequately paid labor.http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/prison-strike-inmate-labor-work Why Prisoners Across the Country Have Gone on Strike Vongkiatkajorn Kanyakrit September 19, 2016 Mother Jones February 17, 2017 The group of inmates used their role as workers as leverage to protest within the prison system. The main goal of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee is to protest the living conditions inmates endure.http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-national-strike-against-prison-slavery A National Strike Against "Prison Slavery" Kim E. Tammy October 3, 2016 The New Yorker February 23, 2017 The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee is associated with the Industrial Workers of the World.https://la.anarchistbookfair.com/sessions/incarcerated-workers-organizing-committee-iwoc/ Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC) 9 September 2016 2016 Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair https://web.archive.org/web/20170312043933/https://la.anarchistbookfair.com/sessions/incarcerated-workers-organizing-committee-iwoc/ 12 March 2017 dead 10 March 2017 Many members of the Industrial Workers of the World are also inmates in prison. Both organizations were part of the prison strike. The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee was formed to address injustices in the prison system.https://iwoc.noblogs.org/about/ About Us IWW Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee 10 March 2017 On July 31, 2014, the organization's statement of purpose was created in order to organize and unite prisoners. There are five components to the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee's Statement of Purpose, which lay out the goals of the organization, advocate for prisoner solidarity, and advocate for the needs of inmates. Cellular devices were used to organize the groups of strikers. Inmates Inmates in 40 to 50 prisons planned to participate in the strike, and over 24,000 inmates were involved. Inmates residing in Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Oregon, and Georgia participated. Prisoners in Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, and Washington also contributed to the strike. Protests in South Carolina, Michigan, and Florida occurred as well. The use of concealed cellphones helped to coordinate the strike and unite the strikers. Supporters from outside sources aided in its organization. Protest actions included the inmates refusing to perform labor and pushing the prisons into a state of lockdown. Orders from a Florida prison were ignored on September 12, 2016, and caused a temporary lockdown. In Michigan, the inmates who worked in the kitchen did not appear at their work posts. Approximately 400 prisoners ignored their tasks and marched. That institution eventually attained a lockdown status after the facility received an impairment. Inmates in South Carolina and Alabama voiced their concerns and requested an end to unfair prison labor, low wages, and poor living conditions. Causes While different prison inmates have diverse reasons for striking, the main issues behind the prison strike included unfair use of prison labor, low wages, and unsatisfying living conditions. The labor of the inmates includes maintaining the prison: indoor cleaning, paperwork, cooking, and outdoor maintenance. Inmates are not entitled to any insurance, and prisoners can be forced to work for free, as the 13th Amendment allows unpaid labor in prisons. From Nixon’s presidency to the present day, much of the increase in both the number and percentage of Americans who are incarcerated can be attributed to the war on drugs. As a result of increased enforcement of 1970s-era drug laws, enhanced sentencing guidelines, and racial profiling, 40 percent of people incarcerated in the United States are now African American. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world.https://www.statista.com/statistics/262962/countries-with-the-most-prisoners-per-100-000-inhabitants Ranking: Most prisoners per capita by country 2021 Inmates in 20 or more prisons across the United States participatedBonsu Janae A Strike Against the New Jim Crow Dissent 2017 64 64–68 10.1353/dss.2017.0013 152007023 in the largest prison strike to ever take place, resulting in financial loss for companies that take advantage of absolute minimum wages. The inmates involved in the strike feel the current prison system is dysfunctional.http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/30/us/us-prisoner-strike/ Why US inmates launched a nationwide strike Blau Max 31 October 2016 CNN 12 April 2017 In prisons in Michigan, inmates receive wages from $0.75 to $3.73 daily. The wage levels caused the inmates to join the strike by participating in a work stoppage. Approximately 40 prisoners were involved. In South Carolina prisons, inmates are “compensated” through the skills they learn on the job, rather than through U.S. currency. One inmate in a South Carolina prison believes the 13th Amendment is the reason for the prisoners’ alleged dehumanization. Approximately 200 prisoners in a South Carolina prison joined the strike to protest the prison’s invocation of the 13th Amendment and the resulting labor and wage conditions. 13th Amendment The 13th Amendment was added to the U.S Constitution after the U.S. Civil War.http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/thirteenth-amendment Thirteenth Amendment 2009 History.com 14 March 2017 Its stated purpose was to put an end to slavery in America, yet the amendment explicitly includes a provision to permit slavery for persons convicted of a crime. The striking inmates interpreted the 13th Amendment as a reason for their poor wages and living conditions. Prison systems continue to enforce mandatory work stations that provide few financial advantages for inmates. Prison labor generates an estimated $2 billion per year. The strikers called for increased wages and for a change to the 13th Amendment. See also 2010 Georgia prison strike 2018 U.S. prison strike Prison strike Prisoners' rights References 30em Category:Labor disputes in Alabama Category:Labor disputes in Florida Category:Labor disputes in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Labor disputes in Illinois Category:Labor disputes in Michigan Category:Labor disputes in Mississippi Category:Labor disputes in North Carolina Category:Labor disputes in South Carolina Category:Labor disputes in Oregon Category:Labor disputes in Texas Category:Labor disputes in Virginia Category:Labor disputes in Washington (state) Category:Labor disputes led by the Industrial Workers of the World Category:2016 labor disputes and strikes Category:Prison strikes in the United States Category:2010s strikes in the United States