Support the Georgia prisoners

[Hannah Bell]

Prisoners in at least six prisons in Georgia organized the largest prison strike in U.S. history in December to demand better living and working conditions. The weeklong strike ended on December 15, but supporters on the outside are still pressing for the inmates' demands.

The Campaign to End the Death Penalty issued this statement on January 17, outlining the demands of the prisoners and urging support for the struggle.

The list of demands that sparked the strike follows below. These demands continue to be urgent needs of the prisoners, as they continue their struggle for fair and humane treatment:

-- A living wage for work: In violation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude, the Department of Corrections (DOC) demands prisoners work for free.

-- Educational opportunities: For the great majority of prisoners, the DOC denies all opportunities for education beyond the GED, despite the benefit to both prisoners and society.

-- Decent health care: In violation of the 8th Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments, the DOC denies adequate medical care to prisoners, charges excessive fees for the most minimal care, and is responsible for extraordinary pain and suffering.

-- An end to cruel and unusual punishments: In further violation of the 8th Amendment, the DOC is responsible for cruel prisoner punishments for minor infractions of rules.

-- Decent living conditions: Georgia prisoners are confined in overcrowded, substandard conditions, with little heat in winter and oppressive heat in summer.

-- Nutritional meals: Vegetables and fruit are in short supply in DOC facilities while starches and fatty foods are plentiful.

-- Vocational and self-improvement opportunities: The DOC has stripped its facilities of all opportunities for skills training, self-improvement and proper exercise.

-- Access to families: The DOC has disconnected thousands of prisoners from their families by imposing excessive telephone charges and innumerable barriers to visitation.

-- Just parole decisions: The Parole Board capriciously and regularly denies parole to the majority of prisoners despite evidence of eligibility.

http://socialistworker.org/2011/01/26/support-georgia-prisoners