Day 3 of Historic Prison Strike in Georgia-Blacked out By Media-Guards committing Violence

Dec. 12, 2010 From Correntewire and Davey D’s Hip-Hop Blog

Georgia — On Thursday morning, December 9, 2010, thousands of Georgia
prisoners refused to work, stopped all other activities and locked down in
their cells in a peaceful protest for their human rights.

The December 9 Strike became the biggest prisoner protest in the history
of the United States. Thousands of men, from Augusta, Baldwin, Hancock,
Hays, Macon, Smith and Telfair State Prisons, among others, initiated this
strike to press the Georgia Department of Corrections (“DOC”) to stop
treating them like animals and slaves and institute programs that address
their basic human rights.  They set forth the following demands:

   * · A LIVING WAGE FOR WORK
   * · EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
   * · DECENT HEALTH CARE
   * · AN END TO CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS
   * · DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS
   * · NUTRITIONAL MEALS
   * · VOCATIONAL AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
   * · ACCESS TO FAMILIES
   * · JUST PAROLE DECISIONS

Despite that the prisoners’ protest remained non-violent, the DOC
violently attempted to force the men back to work—claiming it was “lawful”
to order prisoners to work without pay, in defiance of the 13th
Amendment’s abolition of slavery.  In Augusta State Prison, six or seven
inmates were brutally ripped from their cells by CERT Team guards and
beaten, resulting in broken ribs for several men, one man beaten beyond
recognition.  This brutality continues there.  At Telfair, the Tactical
Squad trashed all the property in inmate cells.  At Macon State, the
Tactical Squad has menaced the men for two days, removing some to the
“hole,” and the warden ordered the heat and hot water turned off.  Still,
today, men at Macon, Smith, Augusta, Hays and Telfair State Prisons say
they are committed to continuing the strike.  Inmate leaders, representing
blacks, Hispanics, whites, Muslims, Rastafarians, Christians, have stated
the men will stay down until their demands are addressed, one issuing this
statement:

“…Brothers, we have accomplished a major step in our struggle…We must
continue what we have started…The only way to achieve our goals is to
continue with our peaceful sit-down…I ask each and every one of my
Brothers in this struggle to continue the fight.  ON MONDAY MORNING, WHEN
THE DOORS OPEN, CLOSE THEM.  DO NOT GO TO WORK.  They cannot do anything
to us that they haven’t already done at one time or another.  Brothers,
DON’T GIVE UP NOW.  Make them come to the table.  Be strong.  DO NOT MAKE
MONEY FOR THE STATE THAT THEY IN TURN USE TO KEEP US AS SLAVES….”

When the strike began, prisoner leaders issued the following call: “No
more slavery.  Injustice in one place is injustice to all. Inform your
family to support our cause.  Lock down for liberty!” So calls to the
warden’s office of the following Georgia State Prisons expressing concern
for the welfare of the prisoners during this and the next few days are
welcome.

Macon State Prison is 978-472-3900.

Hays State Prison is at (706) 857-0400

Telfair State prison is 229-868-7721

Baldwin State Prison is at (478) 445- 5218

Valdosta State Prison is 229-333-7900

Smith State Prison is at (912) 654-5000

The Georgia Department of Corrections is at http://www.dcor.state.ga.us
and their phone number is 478-992-5246


HERE'S THE PRESS RELEASE AND DEMANDS:

Press Release

BIGGEST PRISONER STRIKE IN U.S. HISTORY

Thousands of Georgia Prisoners to Stage Peaceful Protest

December 8, 2010…Atlanta, Georgia

Contacts: Elaine Brown, 404-542-1211, sistaelaine@gmail.com;Valerie
Porter, 229-931-5348, lashan123@att.net; Faye Sanders, 478-550-7046,
reshelias@yahoo.com

           Tomorrow morning, December 9, 2010, thousands of Georgia
prisoners will refuse to work, stop all other activities and
remain in their cells in a peaceful, one-day protest for their
human rights.  The December 9 Strike is projected to be the
biggest prisoner protest in the history of the United States.

           These thousands of men, from Baldwin, Hancock, Hays, Macon,
Smith and Telfair State Prisons, among others, state they are
striking to press the Georgia Department of Corrections
(“DOC”) to stop treating them like animals and
slaves and institute programs that address their basic human
rights.  They have set forth the following demands:

·         A LIVING WAGE FOR WORK:  In violation of the 13th Amendment to
the Constitution prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude, the 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
over-crowded, 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.