The Black, White, and Latino inmates from Augusta, Baldwin, Hancock, Hays, Macon, Smith, and Telfair State Prisons refused to leave their cells for work and other activities, partly because they feel the Georgia Department of Corrections treats them like slaves, according to supporters who are not jailed.
“I’m talking to these brothers every day, every other minute really, and particularly in Macon, Telfair, Hays and Smith, their decision is they’re not going to stop this strike now. One brother told me, ‘We will ride until the wheels fall off,’ and that’s been the sentiment amongst the men when they started this,” said Elaine Brown, a spokesperson for the strike.
More specifically, the inmates are demanding: a living wage for work, opportunities for higher education, better health care without excessive fees, and an end to cruel and unusual punishment for minor infractions.
They also want more fruits and vegetables, more vocational training, an end to some restrictions on family access, and an end to excessive telephone charges and just parole decisions.
“Part of our purpose for doing this is that Georgia is the only state that does not pay it’s inmates at all. Some guys in here work seven days a week and they don’t get a dime,” said Dondito, one of the strikers, who requested anonymity.
He said despite reports by the Department of Corrections that no inmates have been hurt, several in Augusta have been beaten up to unrecognizable points, according to their families. “The DOC and internal affairs have been to most of the institutions today, pulling inmates out, trying to find out who are the leaders and who have the cell phones because this was organized so well and done so strategically, it snuck up on them,” he told The Final Call on Dec. 13, day five of the strike and also press time. Read the full story at The Final Call online.
